On Friday, Cheshire High School girls’ basketball (3-10) picked up their second straight victory, 52-36, over East Haven (10-3). Along with getting their first win at home, the Rams also avenged a 46-41 loss on Dec. 16 at EH.
CHS never trailed in the game. Senior quad-captain Mimi Perlini opened the scoring with a three-pointer.
After junior Gianna Castellano hit two foul shots, senior Gabby Tirado and sophomore Sydney Hale both scored inside to extend Cheshire’s lead to 7-2. The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 9-8, however CHS ran off five points to end the first quarter.
Perlini and junior quad-captain Ella Kulas both had baskets in that run, while Tirado hit a foul shot. Perlini and Tirado earned five points each in the opening quarter.
Senior quad-captain Anna Hurlbut kicked off the second with a three-point play, propelling Cheshire to a 17-8 advantage.
Tirado netted two baskets in the second. She tallied all of her career-high nine points in the first half.
Sophomores Allie Grove and Sadie Doyle added baskets in the second. Freshman Andrea Gogal also sank two free throws to help Cheshire build a 27-17 lead at intermission.
Kulas started the second half with a three-point play. EH senior Gabriella Milici made a three-pointer, however, Grove came back with a three-pointer and a layup.
Baskets by Perlini and Grove propelled Cheshire to a 39-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the first meeting at EH, CHS led for three quarters, but were shut out 12-0 in the fourth and ended up falling by five points.
This time, the Rams went scoreless for the opening four minutes of the final frame, but Kulas came up with a clutch three-pointer to put Cheshire up 42-29.
From there, Perlini stepped up with two layups and a three-pointer. She had a game-high 14 points, nine of which came in the second half.
Down the stretch, freshman Molly Fleming made a free throw and Kulas converted on a runner.
Kulas tallied 10 of her 12 points after halftime. Tirado and Grove posted nine and seven points, respectively.
Senior Gabriella Gaetano led the Yellow Jackets with 10 points.
On Jan. 24, the Rams visit New Haven to play Hillhouse (4-6) at 7 p.m. Back on Dec. 20, the Academics won 44-40 at CHS.
Girls’ Ice Hockey (0-11)
At Newington Ice Arena, Amity/North Haven/Cheshire Co-Op fell 8-3 to host East Catholic Co-Op (8-5-1). East Catholic netted the opening eight goals.
The Connecticut Blades ended the game on a 3-0 run. Amity senior Carly Silbert ended the shutout and then Amity freshman Maybelle Caron scored twice.
NH freshman Emelia Brandi assisted on the last goal. CHS freshman goalkeeper Lindsey DiNicola tallied 28 saves.
On Saturday at Hamden’s Louis Astorino Ice Arena, the Blades face Hamden Co-Op (4-7) at 4 p.m.
Remainder of Saturday’s varsity schedule:
Wrestling (0-8)
Cheshire travels to Middletown to wrestle in the Colter Abely Tournament at Mercy. Start time is 8 a.m.
Indoor Track and Field
CHS athletes head to New Haven’s Floyd Little Athletic Center for the Southern Connecticut Conference Coaches Invite at 9 a.m.
Boys’ Basketball (3-8)
Cheshire visits Southington (7-3) to compete at 6 p.m.
Boys’ Ice Hockey (4-4)
At Northford Ice Pavilion, the Rams are slated to compete against unbeaten host North Haven (9-0) at 7:30 p.m.