Some early prognostications for you from the early returns in girls basketball.
The Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division is going to be tough.
I know, tell us something we don't know.
There were some question marks with some of the better teams in the Division which will be the most competitive in the league this year.
Windham answered most of theirs with an easy win over Waterford as coach Ken Valliere probably has a deeper bench than a year ago. They don't possess a lot of height which could be troublesome when they meet up with Montville and Stonington.
The Indians have the most improved player I have seen thus far in Nikkia Smith. The six-foot-one-inch junior center was very impressive against E.O. Smith and they also feature the perimeter shooting of Caitlin Quinn and the slashing style of Lindsay Stergio. Andrea Daniels is a nice weak-side rebounder who can score on put backs, Nichole Delaney offers up some key baskets and Nini Giansanti adds depth, it's a good-looking club for Derek Wainwright.
Stonington may have the biggest answer but also the most questions. It's hard to argue with the talents of 6-4 center Heather Buck but the Bears have lost three of their top six players from a year ago, one to Fitch, one to gymnastics and one who chose not to come out. Sophomore Caroline Gosselin did score 10 points in the opener vs. St. Bernard and Emily Castle, back after a year off, added eight.
I'm hopefully going to get a chance to see Bacon this Friday vs. Fitch because the Bobcats are in this mix with almost everyone back from a year ago. Bacon is off to a 2-0 start after wins over RHAM and Lyman but Fitch will offer a good challenge.