The East Hartford High School Girls Basketball Team has brought home its first state title. On March 20, the Hornets defeated Wilton in the Class LL State Finals at Mohegan Sun with a final score of 54-33.
“Throughout the season we knew we had the goal of making it to Mohegan. Every game we just took it one game at a time and I think that our commitment to the team and our commitment to playing for each other was kind of the reason we got so far,” said Senior Co-Captain Kayla Henry. “It was just a great feeling being able to make it and accomplish our goal.”
Co-Captain Shailyn Pinkney, who will play Division I basketball at Seton Hall next year, says the win still hasn’t sunk in.
“I don’t think it has hit any of us yet. We’re just happy that we accomplished our goal to play in the state championship. It just doesn’t feel real,” she said.
Coach Jonathan Myette, in his first year as head coach, knew his team had these big goals from the start. He especially felt that pressure from Pinkney, who believed they could go the distance.
“She mentioned she wanted to go undefeated. She thought she could and she thought the group could,” said Myette. “So that definitely set the tone.”
That belief in their ability carried them throughout the season, even through their two losses. Sophomore Comfort Boateng shared how difficult those moments were for the team, but how it ultimately made the team stronger.
“Over time, each game, each practice we slowly came back together,” said Boateng.
“Every week picking and choosing the focus points and how to ensure that the group just moves forward successfully, we never took a play off and we never took anything for granted,” explained Myette.
In the championship game, the team got to show off all of that hard work in front of their community. A large crowd of East Hartford administrators, teachers, families, and students traveled to Mohegan Sun to cheer on the team.
“I was really proud. I felt like the team was really proud to see everybody’s faces supporting us,” said Pinkney. “I was very grateful for that because we’ve never had a crowd that big before, so it was just a great moment for us to put on for East Hartford.”