Bristol Eastern girls hoop downs Farmington in 2021 opener

Region B girls basketball

BRISOL EASTERN 63, FARMINGTON 58

from Farmington high school 

Bristol Eastern (1-0)             8 24 19 12 – 63

Farmington (0-1)                   12 8 18 20 – 58 

BRISTOL EASTERN (63): Taigan Parent 2 0 4, Ciara Collins 10 4 25, Cali Doyon 3 1 8, Alyssa Kehler 8 0 18, Sage Scarritt 4 0 8, Emma Stavens 0 0 0, Audrey Tice 0 0 0. Totals: 27 5 63.

FARMINGTON (58): Reshhma Palanivel 1 0 2, Emma Novajosky 9 2 21, Sarah Bertolette 9 0 19, Anna Loughman 2 0 4, Ali Godfrey 3 0 6, Brooke Jones 1 0 2, Avery Anderson 1 2 4. Totals: 26 4 58.

Three-point goals: Keller (BE) 2, Collins (BE), Doyon (BE), Novajosky (F), Bertolette (F). 

Records: Bristol Eastern 1-0; Farmington 0-1 

By Michael Letendre 

FARMINGTON – The Bristol Eastern girls basketball opener from Farmington high school on Wednesday, February 10 showed exactly what the local program is capable of when firing on all cylinders.

Trailing after one frame of play, the Lancers took the lead for good midway through the second quarter as Eastern eventually downed Farmington, 63-58.

Eastern canned 11-of-19 field goals in the second frame and built a solid 12-point edge at the half.

That edge ballooned to 19 toward the tail-end of the third tilt before the home team made a furious comeback in the fourth but got no closer than three points late.

And at each pass, a huge basket from Eastern standout Ciara Collins helped to increase the visitor’s lead.

Collins was impressive with a game-high 25 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals over a busy night of play.

Alyssa Kehler kicked in 18 points, Sage Scarritt added eight points, four rebounds, and three steals while Cali Doyon collected eight points, two rebounds, seven assists and a team-high four steals.

Taigan Parent earned her first ever start and contributed four points, two rebounds, and four assists.

Making their first appearances for the Lancers that night were freshmen Emma Stavens (three assists) and Audrey Tice who each made contributions to the winning effort.

The Lancers had 21 assists on 27 baskets, moving the ball around the court with zest and finding open targets while committing just 13 turnovers.

Farmington’s Emma Novajosky led the team with 21 points while Sarah Bertolette dropped in 19 for the losing contingent.

Eastern led by four early in the first frame before Farmington went on a 10-2 run to settle on a 12-8 push through eight minutes of action.

In the second period, Collins canned a quick jumper and when she cooly sank two free throws, making it a 14-12 game in Eastern’s favor, Farmington never led again.

To end the half, Collins canned a jumper, Kehler found Parent for a basket and when Collins threaded a nifty pass to Scarritt – ending the stanza with a hoop at the buzzer – Eastern led 32-20 at the break via a 24-point second quarter scoring bonanza.

Still leading by 12 midway the third quarter, Keller sandwiched two 3-pointers around a jumper by Collins as the program hit six of its first eight field goals to open the third period with a 42-24 lead. 

A Collins 3 extended the cushion to 19 late in the third as the Kingstreeters led 51-38 with one quarter left to play.

In the Farmington fourth, the home team seemingly couldn’t miss from the field, attacking the basket for hoops while going on a 20-10 run.

And as Eastern tried to run clock, turnovers and rushed shots got Farmington within reach of the lead.

A late three from Novajosky coupled with a lay-up and two free throws dropped the deficit to 61-58 but time was nearly up.

Farmington was forced to foul, eventually putting Collins on the line for a 1-and-1 situation.

She sank both free throws, Farmington never scored again as Eastern won a big 63-58 decision on the road to move to 1-0.