Coginchaug Girls Split a Pair; Playoffs Around the Corner

By Alan Pease

vs. Old Saybrook

The Lady Devils travelled to Old Saybrook on Monday the 4th, and despite a slow start, came away with a comfortable 51-28 victory.  Shooting problems resulted in a 13-8 deficit after one period.  The problems continued early in the second period, as they had six turnovers in the period before they even got a shot off, half-way through the frame.  However, the defense was also clamping down, and the Lady Rams were having even more difficulty in scoring, netting only two points early on in the period.  

A Jessica Solomon steal and basket finally knotted the game at 15 all, and a Kim Romanoff bucket off of a Morgan Kuehnle assist put the Devils on top for good, as they took a 19-15 lead at the half, 33-20 after three, ending with the 51-28 victory.

Morgan Kuehnle led the team in three categories – rebounds with 14, points with 12, and blocks with two.  She also has three steals and an assist.  Jessica Solomon scored ten, adding seven rebounds, two assists, and leading the team in steals with four.  Kim Romanoff dropped in nine points, adding three steals, three rebounds and an assist.  Audrey Arcari and Olivia Corazzini both scored seven, with Arcari adding four rebounds, three steals and an assist, and Corazzini adding two boards.

Off the bench, Mikayla Wyskiel scored two, adding two rebounds, a steal and an assist.  Sidney Trusty had two steals, an assist and a rebound, Caryn Sibiskie scored two, and Naomi Rinaldo had a rebound and a steal.

vs. Cromwell

On Thursday, February 7th, the Devils hosted the undefeated Panthers from Cromwell.  The girls kept the game reasonably close for a while, trailing 23-15 after the first period, with a Jessica Solomon bucket off of a Morgan Kuehnle assist drawing Coginchaug within seven at 28-21 with three minutes gone in the period.  But it was down-hill from there, as the Devils missed there next nine shots, and Cromwell finished the half on a 9-0 run to take a 37-21 lead at the half.  

Their shooting woes continued in the third period, as only baskets by Kuehnle and Romanoff, plus a free throw by Audrey Arcari, raised an otherwise woeful 0-10 performance from the team, as Cromwell led 51-26 after three periods, and left with a 67-40 win.

Morgan Kuehnle was a gain a bright spot for Coginchaug, again nothing a double-double, and leading the team in rebounding with 14, scoring with eleven, and blocks with four.  She also had two steals and an assist.  Kim Romanoff was the other double digit scorer with ten, adding four assist and four steals.  Jessica Solomon scored seven, adding three rebounds and an assist.  Audrey Arcari and Olivia Corazzini each scored six points, with Arcari adding four rebounds, four steals and an assist, and Corazzini adding three rebounds and blocking a shot.

Off the bench, Caryn Sibiskie grabbed two rebounds, Mikayla Wyskiel had a rebound and a steal, and Sydney Trusty had a rebound.

Coginchaug is 13-5, 12-4 in the Shoreline conference.  After the recent weather problems, and schools being closed on Monday, they hope to play early (4:30) at Morgan on Tuesday the 12th, and will host H-K on Wednesday the 13th.  Then it will be on to the play-offs, both Shoreline and State class M!