MONROE, CT — The Masuk High girls basketball team opened its season with a 52-43 win over Wilton, a visiting FCIAC team, Monday night.
It was a tight contest, 24-22 Panthers at the half. A pair of 3-pointers by Grace Kearney and Dani Dube helped Masuk push its lead to double digits in the third quarter.
Wilton hung around and was within 38-32 going into the fourth and closed to within four points early in the final stanza. Key baskets by Bailey Bajda, Kearney, Hannah Fagan and Dube helped Masuk pull away.
“A good test for us. I think the girls were resilient throughout the game and didn’t panic,” Coach Dan Young said.
Fagan hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 15 points. Dube hit a pair from downtown and scored all 13 of her points after halftime. Bajda also dropped in 13 and Kearney scored nine.
The Panthers are striving for a strong season. Senior captains are Fagan, a forward, and center Olivia Garrity.
Other key Panthers are sophomore guards Bajda and Charlotte Pinto, sophomore guard/forward Kearney, and freshman guard/forward Dube.
“Goals for this season are to continue to grow our program and compete with best teams in our league. Our goals begin with returning to the SWC and State tournaments. We expect to compete for the division title,” said Young, adding he anticipates all South-West Conference matchups to be competitive.
Tough out-of-SWC matchups include a Dec. 13 game against North Haven of the SCC and Dec. 27 battle with Staples of the FCIAC.
Young likes what he has seen as the preseason gives way to the start of the regular slate.
“Been a great start the first two weeks, excited to see this team grow and build chemistry,” he said. “They have brought great energy and enthusiasm and we are excited to bring that to our season.”
