2014 Class S Girls Basketball Championship

UNCASVILLE - Abby Hurlbert gave Thomaston new life and Casey Carangelo and the Bears took advantage to win a state title.

Hurlbert hit three free throws with 0.2 seconds to play in overtime and Carangelo scored the first five points of the second overtime to lead third-seeded Thomaston to a 61-57 victory over top seeded St. Paul in the Class S state championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Thomaston (22-4) wins the title a year after losing the Class S crown on the same floor to Capital Prep, which won the Class L title earlier Saturday over Weaver.

"It's awesome, this team never quits, never gives up and it was a great win," Thomaston coach Bob McMahon said.

St. Paul led 52-49 after Theresa Swanke made one of two free throbs but that left the door open for Hurlbert, who was fouled shooting a three from the right wing. She made the first two before St. Paul burned a timeout to ice her. It didn't work and when she made the third it meant double overtime.

"I was confident and I wanted it," Hurlbert said. "We practice free throws all the time and say this is for the state championship and today it was and it helped."

McMahon was confident in his senior leader as well.

"Double overtime," McMahon said when asked what he was thinking when Hurlbert took the line to shoot three. "She knew she was going to make them too, she told us all in the huddle we're fine, I got this."

The momentum varied over to the second overtime for the Bears as Carangelo, a freshman asserted herself down low. She made a free throw to make it 53-52 and then made a pair of buckets in the lane to extend he lead to 57-52 with 2:15 to go.

"Why Abby made those free throws it was a huge boost and in the second overtime we just wanted it," Carangelo said. "I got the ball in some good spots and was able to take advantage."

St. Paul didn't go down without a fight and Elisabeth Cretella made a pair of layups down the stretch to pull the Falcons within two but each time the Bears responded at the free throw line. Hurlbert made a pair with 21 seconds to play and after Cretella's second layup, Morgan Sanson made two with six seconds left to cap the scoring.

"We played a good game and it just came down to a couple of plays that made the difference," St. Paul coach Joe Mone said. "It was a well played game on both sides, that's what happens when you get thy begs two teams on the final and we should walk out of here with our heads up high."

Hurlbert scored 23 points and added eight rebounds no three steals while Carangelo added 21 points and nine boards and Sanson had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Mekaela Giantonio scored 15 points and Cretella added 14 for the Falcons.

The Bears were victorious in the first girls final to go to overtime since 2006 and the ninth overall. It was just the second girls fin never to go to multiple overtimes.

"It's amazing. It was a tough game and St. Paul is a great team," Hurlbert said. "After last year we knew we wanted to come here and go out winners and we did."

HOME TEAM: ST. PAUL

Time

Score

Margin

VISITORS: THOMASTON

07:37

0-2

V 2

GOOD! LAYUP by SANSON, Morgan [PNT]

MISSED JUMPER by CRETELLA, Elisabeth

07:17

REBOUND (DEF) by CARANGELO, Casey

07:03

TURNOVR by SANSON, Morgan

GOOD! 3 PTR by McMAHON, Kelly

06:42

3-2

H 1

ASSIST by CRETELLA, Elisabeth

06:42

FOUL by CRETELLA, Elisabeth (P1T1)

06:26

3-3

T 1

GOOD! FT SHOT by HURLBERT, Abigail

REBOUND (DEF) by STURM, Madeline