2014 Class L Girls Basketball Championship

MOHEGAN - It took a while for Capital Prep-Hartford and Gatorade Player of the Year Kiah Gillespie to adjust to the bright lights of Mohegan Sun arena Saturday.

The 6-foot-2 Gillespie was 0-for-5 shooting in the first quarter, and Capital, undefeated and ranked No. 1 in every state poll, trailed Weaver in the Class L final until four minutes remained in the third quarter.

"We were a little nervous, and it looked like we couldn't play at all," Gillespie said.

But once the Trailblazers shook off their morning malaise, they restored their place on top of the CIAC girls' basketball world ... and in their city of Hartford. Number-one seeded Capital Prep, trailing by as much as 10 in the second quarter, used a 15-3 run late in the third quarter to take over the game and roll to a 69-53 victory over No. 3 Weaver-Hartford for its second straight CIAC title and first in Class L for the magnet school.

Capital finishes 24-0, while Weaver fell to 21-3.

"The fat lady has sung, the scoreboard says 69-53 and we're Class L champs," said Capital Prep coach Tammy Millsaps when asked if the Trailblazers deserved to remain No. 1 in the final state polls.

Gillespie finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, despite making just six of 22 field goal attempts, but her combination of size and athleticism helped take the game over in the second half along with Capital Prep's other Division I prospect - 5-10 sophomore Desiree Elmore, who had 24 points and 17 rebounds.

After shooting just 30 percent in the first half and trailing 33-30 at halftime, Capital Prep committed to going inside in the final two quarters. They responded with a 58-42 rebounding edge and 29 second-chance points compared to Weaver's nine points after offensive rebounds.

"We wanted to hit the glass, get second shots and instead of making a shot from 20 or 14 feet, make it from four feet," Millsaps said.

While Capital went inside, Weaver became cold from the perimeter after a strong first-half by guards Dejane James (22 points) and Shaquana Edwards, both of whom played for Capital last season before transferring. Weaver hit just 5 of 33 shots in the second half after 44 percent shooting in the first two quarters

In the pivotal third quarter, Elmore and Gillespie stepped up. Two Elmore free throws cut the Weaver lead to 40-39 with 4:35 left. Elmore grabbed a rebound and hoisted an outlet pass to Angelique Rodriguez (12 points) for a layup and 41-40 lead, its first edge since leading 3-0 early. Gillespie's two free throws gave Capital the lead for good, 43-41, with 3:35.

After a timeout, Gillespie, in the high post, passed to a cutting Elmore for a three-point play with 1:35 left in the third to up Capital's lead to 48-41. Weaver didn't score until seconds left in the third, trailing 52-43 heading into the fourth. Capital scored the first six points of the fourth to lead 58-43 and Weaver could not cut the gap to single digits thereafter.

"I'm proud of my team - the first public school girls' team in Hartford to make the finals three out of four years," Weaver coach Wendell Williams said. Weaver won the 2012 Class M title. "We tried to make Gillespie defend in the first quarter. The last four games I've seen, she's been in cruise control, but we made her work hard defending Alyssa Stewart and I think that contributed to her slow start. But they made a good move switching Elmore to Stewart, freeing up Gillespie."

Gillespie said it was satisfying to silence some doubters that pointed to Capital's small-school conference- the Constitution State Conference - as a reason not to vote the Trailblazers No. 1. Capital tried to improve its competition level by scheduling five non-league games against five powerhouse squads from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Massachusetts. Weaver played in the stronger, large-school Central Connecticut Conference.

"We can't do anything about our conference, but I have to credit our tough non-league schedule - the five games against great out-of-state competition," she said. "Those teams were excellent and prepared us to play at this fast pace against Weaver."

Capital figures to challenge again for state supremacy next season as only one starter is a senior.

"It's scary that almost every starter will be back ," Gillespie said. "We hope to be back here again."

CAPITAL PREP 69

Score by Periods	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
WEAVER	15	18	10	10	53	Record: (21-3)
CAPITAL PREP	9	21	22	17	69	Record: (24-0)

Officials:
Technical fouls: WEAVER-JAMES, Dejane. CAPITAL PREP-ELMORE, Desiree.
Attendance:
*** 2014 CIAC GIRLS CLASS L CHAMPIONSHIP ***

HOME TEAM: CAPITAL PREP

Time

Score

Margin

VISITORS: WEAVER