Windsor Locks rallies behind Monroe, Courtney

Mar. 9—It was better late than never for Sincere Monroe, Evan Courtney and the Windsor Locks High boys basketball team on Wednesday.

Sophomore Monroe scored 10 of his 22 points in a third-quarter rally while senior Courtney had all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. The top-seeded Raiders came from behind to defeat visiting No. 17 Gilbert School 53-47 in a Division V state tournament second-round game.

Windsor Locks (19-4) will be back home Friday to host No. 8 Old Saybrook in quarterfinal action. The Rams advanced with a 60-47 win over ninth-seeded Coventry.

But for 16 minutes it appeared that Gilbert (12-12) would be playing Friday. Nolan Adams connected on four 3-pointers to help the Yellowjackets build a 32-19 halftime lead.

But Monroe came alive after intermission and helped pull Windsor Locks within 39-34 going to the fourth quarter. Then Courtney took over as the Raiders moved in front. Monroe chipped in five points over the final 8:00.

Adams added three 3-pointers in the second half to finish with 22 points for Gilbert, but Windsor Locks' defense held the Yellowjackets to only two other field goals in that span.

Malike Allesani chipped in 13 points for the Raiders.

Coventry and Haddam-Killingworth are the regular-season common opponents for Windsor Locks and Old Saybrook. The Raiders defeated the Patriots and H-K by identical 68-49 scores in February. The Rams posted the 13-point win over Coventry Wednesday and beat H-K 53-34 in January.

INNOVATION 59, BOLTON 57. In New Britain, Mohammed Kulaib scored 19 points as No. 3 Innovation advanced to the quarterfinals.

Bolton (11-12) led 30-29 at halftime. But the 14th-seeded Bulldogs were outscored 16-11 in the third quarter and Innovation was able to maintain its edge. It led by five before Ryan Orzolek banked in a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer to account for the two-point final margin.

Trevor Buchanan had 25 points and seven rebounds for Bolton. Orzolek had a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) while Colby Marsh had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Innovation (18-5) will take on No. 6 Shepaug Valley at Goodwin Tech on Friday.

WHEELER 55, STAFFORD 51. In North Stonington, Deondre Bransford's 18 points paced No. 5 Wheeler to a second-round win.points.

Stafford (10-13) led 20-19 at halftime before the Lions (17-6) bounced back to take a four-point lead to the fourth quarter that they were able to hold on to.

Zane Brewer added 11 points for Wheeler. Bransford also had seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Zack Donovan scored 15 points for the Bulldogs while Collin Gudeman added 13.

Wheeler will play a quarterfinal game at No. 4 Portland Friday.

Division I

EAST CATHOLIC 87, WESTHILL 47. In Manchester, top-seeded and reigning Division I champion East Catholic got a surprising first-quarter challenge from winless No. 16 Westhill before restoring order and rolling into the quarterfinals.

The Eagles (24-1) will entertain No. 8 Wilbur Cross Friday with a spot in the final four on the line. The Governors ousted Fairfield Prep on Wednesday.

Westhill (0-21) was in the tournament as all 16 Division I teams received bids. The Vikings had lost 18 of their 20 regular-season games by double figures. But with Kyrie McKain scoring eight points, Westhill trailed only 21-16 after one quarter.

But then the Eagles turned up the heat and outscored the Vikings 31-6 in the second quarter for an insurmountable 30-point halftime lead.

East Catholic placed four in double figures with 10 Eagles hitting the scoring column. James Jones led the way with 19 points, 15 in the first half. Samson Reilly added 17 points and Rob Elliott 14 while Preston Fowler recorded a double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds).

McKain finished with 15 points for Westhill.