This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
Pomperaug celebrates a win over New Milford Jan. 30, 2023.
scott ericson
NEW MILFORD — The SWC girls basketball game between Pomperaug and New Milford was as close as expected with the teams tied early in the third quarter.
Then a seven-point swing where New Milford did not touch the ball shifted the momentum to Pomperaug and it was off and running en route to a 62-43 win on the road.
With the game tied 21-21, Pomperaug’s Taylor Brennan scored a layup and was fouled, making her free throw. As the free throw went in, a technical foul was called on New Milford center Ilena Feliz, fouling her out of the game with 9 points.
Pomperaug made both technical free throws and scored on the ensuing possession, completing the seven-point swing.
Later in the third, with Pomperaug up 30-28, the Panthers went on a 22-1 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, eventually leading 52-29.
“We are a team that likes to try and dictate the pace,” Pomperaug coach Joe Fortier said. “We got good shots early in the first half but they just weren’t going. We liked our matchups and knew we had to just keep doing what we were doing. We were just trying to play good defense on their post players and speed up the game.”
New Milford never really recovered from losing Feliz, who had been doing a good job controlling the paint.
“Illena getting the technical and fouling out of the game was hard because she is such a big part of our offense,” New Milford coach Tom LaPorte said. “For a moment we regrouped but they are a fast team and a good shooting team. The pace of the game was out of what we wanted to do. We want to run offense and make four or five passes and slow it down and make them work. Their press led to wide open shots and into us playing a running game.”
Regan Ward scored 17 points, making four 3-pointers for Pomperaug while Sophie Barrett had 13 to lead New Milford.
Both Pomperaug (13-2) and New Milford (12-3) came in as two of the hottest teams in the SWC with the Green Wave riding a nine-game winning streak and Pomperaug coming in having won 10-of-11.
This is the just the start of a tough stretch of the schedule for both teams.
New Milford hosts Nonnewaug (10-3) out of the Berkshire League Tuesday at 6 p.m. and then travels to the top team in the SWC, Immaculate (12-1), Thursday at 7 p.m.
Pomperaug travels to play another SWC contender in Newtown (11-2) Thursday at 7 p.m.
Player of the Game
Claudia Schneider, Pomperaug: Schneider was held in check by New Milford’s Jade Wallace in the first half, scoring just five points. However, once the game opened up for the Panthers, Schneider was able to take advantage and finished with 19 points, including hitting four 3-pointers. She also pulled down 11 rebounds and had six assists.
Quotable
“I think we turned up the defensive intensity and we also started sharing the ball really well and making quick passes that led to a lot of open 3s. It’s really exciting because we have a lot of people who can score the ball. It’s really nice because we always have a balanced scoring attack and if someone has an off night, there is always someone who will pick up the slack.” -- Schneider
