The 2023-2024 high school basketball season got underway today with the girls playing first.
Here’s a quick look at who opened the season Monday and what’s coming up the rest of the week (season openers only):
TONIGHT
The NVL tournament runner-up Holy Cross hosted Mercy-Middletown at 7 p.m. in a game that was carried live by WATR-1320. The Crusaders lost all-time standout Mya Zaccagnini to graduation and Iona, but return some very solid players. One thing Holy Cross has a whole bunch of is height with its trio of six-footers: senior Rachel Healey, sophomore Quinn Barry and sophomore Corinne Lomax. Healey and fellow senior Isabella Oliver are the captains. Holy Cross also brings back speedster Shania Howard, a junior that can change the game in multiple ways.
Wolcott, which played at Bethel, lost four of its starting five, all captains, to graduation. The Eagles will be relying on their junior class to get the job done. Junior captain Lauryn Sinclair is the lone returning starter from last year’s NVL and state semifinalists.
TUESDAY
GIRLS
Defending NVL champion St. Paul hosts Naugatuck at 7 p.m. at the Rev. Brian Monnerat Gymnasium. The Falcons return seniors Audrey Tice, Rebecca Kelly and Olivia Dahn from last year’s successful run, along with junior Madalyne Bielecki and sophomore Zola Cudjoe. St. Paul, like Holy Cross, has a bunch of height with Kelly (6-1), Cudjoe (6-1) and junior Ava Stevenson (6-2).
Crosby begins its season at Derby at 5:30 p.m. Bristol Eastern (6:30) and Bristol Central (6:45) open their seasons at home against Manchester and South Windsor, respectively. WCA and first-year head coach Jason Sturdivant host Wilby at 7.
THURSDAY
GIRLS
Kaynor Tech tips off its season at home against Vinal Tech at 5:30 p.m.
BOYS
Bristol Eastern makes the short trip to Plainville for a 6 o’clock start. NVL tournament runner-up Kennedy is at Oxford at 7.
FRIDAY
GIRLS
Kennedy goes to Oxford for its season opener at 6:30 p.m.
BOYS
Kaynor Tech heads to Vinal Tech for a 6 o’clock tip-off. Crosby heads to Naugatuck, St. Paul hosts Woodland, Wilby is at Ansonia, and Wolcott is home to Seymour. All those games are at 7 p.m. Defending NVL and state champion WCA tips at Watertown at 7.
SATURDAY
BOYS
Bristol Central travels to Hebron to play RHAM at 12:30 p.m.
NOTE: WCA plays Bloomfield on Saturday in the final game of the annual GHPA Classic at Trinity College at 8 p.m. It is a rematch of the Division III state championship game, which the Spartans won to capture their first title.
