E.O. Smith Girls Upset by Bacon Academy, 38-34

E.O. Smith girls basketball coach Kirk Murad was philosophical after collecting the CIAC Class L runner-up trophy for the second-straight year, following the Panthers' 38-34 upset loss at the hands of third-seed Bacon Academy on Saturday afternoon in Uncasville.

 “It's very disappointing, but it's part of life. It's a growing experience. You've got to be able to face adversity. It's a tough day for the six seniors. They really wanted it. Hats off to Bacon Academy. They played the best basketball at the right time of the year. They had their big-time player Taylor McLaughlin come through at the right time. That's what March Madness is all about. They got the best of us today.”

 Junior guard Murphy Murad hit for three to open the game and added a bucket on a feed from Ashley Forand to push the Panthers up 5-2 en route to a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. 

 E.O. Smith carried a 24-22 edge into halftime and held a 29-25 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.  McLaughlin ignited the Bobcats for a 10-0 run to finish the game, scoring a trio of baskets and coming up with a steal to seal the upset victory for Bacon Academy.

 “We made a couple of threes early and after that we didn't get much going at all. When we couldn't make jump shots they could clog the lane so we had nothing inside and nothing outside. It was just a recipe for disaster,” Murad said.

 “Taylor took over down the stretch for them. We tried to get her but she blocked two of our shots. She got the big steal and the layup that put them ahead at the end. Our hats are off to Taylor and (coach) Dave Shea and the rest of the team. They did everything they had to do. They took us out of our offense so we just weren't able to get anything going.

 “They hadn't scored in the whole third quarter and then Carlee Putnam makes that three for them. When we gave up that three, I think that might have changed the momentum,” according to Murad.

 “At halftime we said that we had to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.  When we got to the rim, McLaughlin would block it or we hit it a little too strong off of the backboard.”

 Bacon Academy got a game-high 13 points from McLaughlin, followed by 10 from Putnam. Murphy Murad topped E.O. Smith with 10 points, including a pair from long range. Taylor Vonasek added seven points and six rebounds. Morgan Olander finished with three points and nine blocked shots.