Local roundup: Conn College tops Farmingdale to win USJ Holiday Tournament

West Hartford — A strong second half propelled the Connecticut College men's basketball team to a 67-55 victory over Farmingdale State College in the title game of the USJ Holiday Tournament on Monday afternoon at Calhoun Gymnasium. Conn trailed by four after a low-scoring first half but made up for it after the break, outscoring the Rams 46-30. The Camels shot 64% in the second half and went 7-for-12 from 3-point range. Elias Espinosa scored a game-high 21 points, including five 3-pointers, and was named tournament MVP. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Cam Schainfeld, who finished with nine points and four assists. Edward Harrison also chipped in a season-high 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench. Espinosa finished as the tournament's leading scorer, averaging 21 points per game on 56% shooting. His 10 3-point field goals and seven steals were also the most of any player. Conn (7-5) outscored the Rams 18-4 over the final 6:10. Conn's defense didn't allow a field goal during the stretch and also forced four turnovers. Women's basketball • Sydney Marshall had 13 points, six rebounds and five blocks for Conn College in a 57-53 loss to Babson following a three-week layoff for the holidays. Addi Hunter chipped in 12 points, five boards and three assists, while Catie Donadio added 10 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals for the Camels (7-4). Emily Flynn scored seven points in the final 6:49 for Babson and Chloe Perreault sealed the win with a pair of free throws. Girls' basketball • Katelyn Novak scored 22 points, 16 in the first half, and Bacon Academy defeated E.O. Smith 54-23. Skyelyn Schoen-Rene added 21 points for Bacon (4-1), which led 30-10 at halftime. • Juju Guarraia had 17 points and three steals as East Lyme remained unbeaten with a 44-27 victory over Amistad. Cailin Delaney finished with 13 points, five rebounds and five steals for the Vikings (5-0), Sadie Eident had nine points, Taylor Kachinsky six rebounds and Cassidy O'Brien seven assists and four steals. • Maggie Dykes had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Ledyard in a 49-39 loss to New Britain. Julia Bonser added nine points and 10 rebounds for Ledyard (3-2). • Serafina Weymouth and Lucy Walker had 12 points each for Waterford in a 47-36 loss to Woodstock Academy. Izzy D'Alleva-Bochain had 18 points for Woodstock. Waterford is 0-4. Boys' basketball • Zane Brewer finished with 18 points and seven rebounds and was named to the All-Tournament Team as Wheeler defeated Old Saybrook 54-46 in the consolation game of the Morgan Holiday Tournament. Nate Mayne added 15 points and three rebounds for Wheeler (2-3). Brendan Cassella had 13 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team for Old Saybrook. • Montville sprinted out to an 18-2 first-quarter lead and went on to beat Norwich Tech 59-29. Jace Kobyluck finished with with 21 points for Montville (2-1) and Carter Collins had eight points and 14 rebounds. Norwich Tech is 2-2. • Luke Shevlin had 17 points and nine rebounds for Ledyard in a 60-56 loss to Windham. Malcom Hunter finished with 16 points for Windham. Ledyard is 1-2. • Jayvon Thompson had eight points for Norwich Free Academy in an 87-40 loss to East Catholic. The Wildcats are 2-1.