Despite Loss to Guilford, Foran Girls Have Eyes Set on States

The Foran girls basketball team is at the point in the season where it can still make a run at the state tournament, despite losing four one-possession games.  

On Tuesday afternoon, the Lions play at Hillhouse, the No. 3 ranked team in the top 10 poll with a 11-2 record. The Lions have a 5-7 overall mark (2-2, SCC Hammonasset Division) after falling to Guilford on the road 55-45 on Saturday afternoon. The Lions have eight regular season games remaining and must win at least three to qualify for the upcoming state tournament. The Indians improved to 8-4 in the Southern Connecticut Conference (3-1 against Hammonasset Division opponents).

“All you can do is take it one game at a time,” Foran Coach Scott Nails said. "You have to get a sixth win before you can get your seventh and eighth wins. Hillhouse is real tough and ranked towards the top of the state. We have scouted them. We know what they do and our players need to execute.”

Nails added, "We need to limit possessions against Hillhouse. In a game they would typically take around 40 shots. We need to limit their opportunities to 30 to 35. They are so athletic and big. It is tough without a shot clock.”

On Saturday afternoon the Lions journeyed to Kenefick Gymnasium at Guilford High School. They got off to a slow start from which they were unable to recover. Foran trailed 30-19 at halftime. The Lions outscored the Indians 26-25 in the second half but it was not enough to make up for the bad first period of play.

“We were down 16-5 at the end of the first quarter. Guilford puts on a lot of pressure," Nails said. “We handled the pressure pretty well but missed some layups. Along with missing layups, we also turned the ball over. We also missed some of our perimeter shots and layups and Guilford made them. We got off to a bad day.”

Nails added, "Playing a 1:30 game Saturday is not ideal. Any time you lace it up and they throw the ball up you must be ready to compete and win. We played 24 instead of 32 minutes.”

Jasmin Rodriguez, a junior center, led Foran with 14 points. Senior point guard Taylor Jagoe and senior forward Cristina LaPenna each added seven points for the Lions.

“Jasmine played well [offensively] after a slow start,” Nails said. “[Ashley] Springsteen did well offensively and Jagoe had a steady performance. We put ourselves in a deep hole that we could not get out of.”

Guilford was led by senior guard Jenna Bellantoni, who nailed 15 points, and junior guard Kathleen Rooney, who took home 13.

“Bellantoni is a spot up shooter. She has a quick release and goes hard up the right side of the court, " Nails said. “Rooney put pressure on our point guard (Jagoe). She hit threes and went to the hole on us.”

After Hillhouse, the Lions face Hand (Thursday), West Haven (Saturday) and North Haven (Feb. 2) at home. Foran defeated all three of these teams on the road.

“We’ve beaten these three teams in their gym,” Nails said. “We have to realize what we need to do and get ready. People make adjustments the second time around and you have to be ready.”

Nails said, "Of our last seven games, six of them are in Milford and five are in our place. They are all winnable games. We have to go out and get them. Nobody will lie down. They won’t beat themselves. We have to go out and win the game.”