The Pomperaug girls basketball team reached the mid-way point of their conference schedule Friday night with a 42-36 victory over Weston High School, with the win improving the Panthers’ record to 6-7 so far this year.
The Panthers opened the year with a challenging non-league slate, going 3-3 before their SWC schedule started. Early losses to Southington and Stamford were countered by victories against Waterbury Career Academy (72-39), Wilby (61-55) and a rout of Amistad (59-15) during the Pomperaug Holiday Tournament held over the winter break.
As the calendar flipped to January, conference play has brought tighter margins.
Three of their four conference losses have been decided by six points or fewer, including a 52-46 loss to Bethel, a 47-42 home loss to Kolbe Cathedral, and a 30-29 nail-biter against Immaculate.
Victories over New Fairfield, Brookfield, and most recently Weston, have shown the Panthers are capable of controlling games defensively, as Pomperaug has held opponents to less than 40 points in five of their six wins.
This year’s roster includes a mix of upper- and underclassmen, led by head coach Joe Fortier.
Comeback Win Over Weston
In front of their home crowd on Friday night, the Panthers trailed by as much as seven points against Weston.
A following 10-0 run put on display the team’s strengths of “3-and-D”, forcing multiple turnovers on defense with long-range shots to take back the lead for good.
Sophomore Abby O’Connell’s pair of three-point shots in their third quarter run helped fuel the comeback, followed by another clutch bucket from beyond the three-point line with time expiring on the shot clock in the fourth quarter.
O’Connell – who fittingly wears No. 3 – finished with a team-high 14 points, followed by Dina Benelli-Donasciemento’s 13 points and Molly Schneider’s 12 points. The trio combined for seven made three-pointers in the game.
Fortier noted a shift in the second-half offense, which opened up more opportunities for his team’s long-range shooters.
“In the first half we kind of settled,” said Fortier following the game. “The threes weren’t falling, but it’s one of our strengths. We were able to penetrate and get some energy there.”
Sophomore Avery Macumber came off the bench and proved to be the “sparkplug” for the team on Friday, according to her head coach, contributing in ways not seen in the official scorebook. Fortier said that her energy on defense and on the glass grabbing rebounds helped in the team’s victory.
Benelli-Donasciemento, a freshman in the starting rotation, has proved to be a consistent all-around player for the Panthers this year, drawing praise from her head coach following Friday’s victory.
“She’s a hooper,” said Fortier. “She’s been so consistent as a freshman. She’s been very steady.”
Fortier pointed to some of the team’s banners over the years, which hang directly across from the team’s bench and above the stands in Pomperaug High School.
From previous 1,000-point scorer accomplishments to all-conference recognitions hanging up in the rafters, Fortier spoke to the bright future ahead of the starting freshman.
“I leave practice and she wants to keep shooting. I’ve had plenty of players who ended up on that banner who do that. I think she can be one of those names,” said Fortier.
In their previous one-point loss to Immaculate, Benelli-Donasciemento had a team-high 15 points, going 7-for-10 from the free throw line.
In The Family
A staple in the program for years, Fortier has seen the program grow alongside his daughter, Jordyn, who has taken on a key role in the team’s back court this year.
“She’s been around Pomperaug basketball for a long time,” said Fortier. “She’s been in the crowd since she was one.”
From coaching her fifth grade team to now overseeing her take the court as a point guard in her Junior year, Fortier says there will be a time in the future to better reflect on what it means for him to have the opportunity to coach the group of players he’s seen grow over the years.
The family connection took on added meaning in the game prior, when Pomperaug hosted its annual Play4Kay game, a breast cancer awareness event held in support of those affected by the disease.
The game was played as a pink-out, with players, coaches, and fans wearing pink in recognition of the cause, while also serving as a fundraiser for the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Fund.
Fortier wore a jacket during the game bearing the words “Suzie Strong” on the back, a tribute to his wife, a breast cancer survivor, and her battle with the disease in 2018.
He was able to reflect on the meaning behind the game and how the community rallied behind his family during those tough years.
“They were really behind us and gave us a lot of support. They were always there for us and checking in on us. The program did a really good job of reaching out, and it means a lot to have two towns that are so supportive,” said Fortier.
Last year’s Play4Kay game raised over $3,000.
Speaking to the home crowd before the annual fundraising game, Fortier said, “Our community amazes us every year.”
Pomperaug will play three games in five days this week, starting with an away match at Joel Barlow on Monday, February 2, followed by home matches against New Milford and Stratford on Thursday and Friday.
Pomperaug’s final four regular season games will be against SWC foes Masuk, Bunnell and Notre Dame Prep, as well as a non-conference game against East Lyme at home on Saturday, February 14.
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