By Michael Letendre 

BRISTOL – It’s already time for a little city series clash as the Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern girls basketball teams are ready to hit the court on Tuesday. 

Last season, the Rams swept the series over two close showdowns and fast forward to this year, most of those same participants will be involved in the rematch.

The Lancers have won four out of its past five contests going into the Mum City tilt while the Rams recently broke a three game losing streak with a 67-25 triumph over Platt.

And it will be interesting to see how much Eastern decides to run, trap and press as the visitors hope to get into transition early and often.

Here’s a look at what to expect on Tuesday evening as Eastern travels to Bristol Central:  

Bristol Eastern Girls Basketball at Bristol Central, CCC South Tilt 

Where: Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium on the campus of BCHS 

When: Tuesday, 6:45 p.m. (weather permitting) 

The storyline to consider: Eastern has been tremendous this year, rolling out a 9-2 record and will be looking for victory number 10.  

Eastern head coach Tony Floyd is pleasantly surprised about how his young core has gotten up to speed in a hurry – making big contributions to the program right off the bat. 

The Lancers have been playing well and have a good shot to win another game on the road, this time against the Rams. 

Bristol Eastern (9-2 overall) – Head Coach: Tony Floyd 

Players to Watch: Autumn Udoh (sophomore), forward/center; Vanessa Drury (senior), guard; Lauren Ayotte (senior), forward; Leah Roy (junior), guard/forward; Amanda Noel (junior), forward; Cassie Sward (freshmen), guard; Savannah Drury (freshmen), guard; Natalie Vye (freshmen), guard; Alaina Joy (freshmen), guard/forward. 

Does Eastern have the edge in this main event bout? You know the deal with records when it comes down to city series play. 

Throw all those records out the window and simply sit back and enjoy the hardwood warfare. 

Eastern has been rolling this season, losing its two games by a combined 12 points. 

Maybe there is something to that amazing ledger after all.

The Lancers have been very good this season, blending its upperclassmen with a multi-talented sophomore along with a stellar freshmen class. 

Speaking of that sophomore, Autumn Udoh has picked up where she left off in 2022-23, leading the program in several statistical categories. 

Through 11 games this year, the forward is averaging team highs of 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots-per-game. 

Even if Udoh gets beaten to the hoop, which isn’t often, she has the ability to block shots from behind and also averages three steals a night. 

She doesn’t take a ton of 3-pointers but Udoh does connect from long range on occasion. 

Forward Amanda Noel (8.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.3 blocks-per-game) is easily the most improved player on the squad – capable of a double-double on any given night. 

She can block shots, runs the floor with zest, finishes at the hoop and snares a few balls away in the passing lanes. 

Add in veteran forward Lauren Ayotte (2.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals-per-game), a blue collar athlete that does so many good things on the court, helping out the younger players along the way.

Simply put, the forwards on the squad are tough to top. 

Point guard Vanessa Drury (9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.1 assists-per-game) has also been there and done that – in her third season of varsity action. 

She does a little of everything on the court, shoots with range and when her shot isn’t falling, Drury is doing something else that helps the program win. 

Just like the contest at Maloney this past Friday when she netted just two points.

Drury dished out 10 assists and nabbed five steals, spinning the Spartans in the process. 

Speaking of Maloney, junior Leah Roy made her debut in Meriden and she filled up the stat sheet with all kinds of tremendous numbers. 

Roy’s return was a big boon for the squad as she immediately returned to the starting unit. 

And when Roy was on the sidelines, preparing to make her comeback, the freshmen duo of  Cassie Sward (6.2 points, 1.7 steals-per-game) and Savannah Drury (4.8 points-per-game) made a combined 10 starts – getting plenty of experience under the bright lights of varsity basketball. 

And Freshmen Alaina Joy and Natalia Vye will also provide support when called upon. 

Eastern is certainly talented and if the nerves don’t get in the way at Central on Tuesday, the Kingstreeters have a good chance in this one.