Dear ,

As we head into Week 5 of the season, the calendar reminds us that winter basketball in New England always comes with a little extra suspense. Last Sunday, Snowstorm Benjamin forced the league to cancel all games — an unfortunate but necessary decision with player and family safety as our top priority.

This week, we have again been closely monitoring weather forecasts with the potential of another storm tomorrow. Fortunately, much like the Denver Broncos’ first field goal attempt last week, it appears the storm will miss us — WIDE RIGHT! We are optimistic that games will be played as scheduled.

Behind the scenes, the league continues to work closely with the Town of West Hartford to develop best-effort contingency plans, particularly for Juniors and Seniors Division games, should weather disruptions arise again this season.

There is a great deal happening in and around the league, so we strongly encourage everyone to read this week’s newsletter in full to stay informed.

📰LEAGUE LINES

❄️Weather Issues Last Sunday

It was disappointing to lose a full slate of games due to Snowstorm Benjamin. Unfortunately, gym availability in West Hartford is extremely limited, making makeup games very difficult to schedule.

• Minors Division: Because the league does not track scores or standings at this level, Minors Division games are rarely made up.

• Juniors Division: After extensive discussions with Juniors Division coaches, it was determined that it was not feasible to reschedule last Sunday’s games.

• Seniors Division: After working with Seniors Division coaches, we were able to accommodate makeup games over the next couple of weeks. Please note that two of the three makeup games must be played at venues that cannot accommodate spectators.

We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and understanding as we navigate these constraints.

🏚️Minors Division Broken Court Issue – Saturday at Conard

The league was informed by the Town of West Hartford that one of the Conard backboards is currently inoperable due to a malfunction in the ceiling-lowering system. Based on the information provided, Court A (closest to the gym lobby) will not be usable tomorrow.

Game location adjustments:

• 9:00am – Stags vs. Bears: Moved to Conard Small Gym

• 10:00am – Bantams vs. Cardinals: Moved to Conard Small Gym

• 11:00am – Tigers vs. Bulldogs: Moved from Court A to Court B

• The 9:00am and 10:00am games on Court B will remain in the main gym.

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE:
The Conard Small Gym has no seating and very limited viewing space. Spectators who cannot stand for the entire game should not attend the Small Gym games tomorrow. The league reserves the right to limit spectators in the Conard Small Gym for the safety of the players and officials.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The Town plans to attempt repairs on the backboard next week.

Seniors Division games, which are played on the main varsity floor, are not affected.

🏃‍♀️National Girls & Women’s Sports Day – Tuesday, February 3

We are excited to share the following invitation from Conard Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach, Laurie Cersosimo:

*“Hello!
My name is Laurie Cersosimo and I am the Conard girls basketball coach. This coming Tuesday 2/3 we are hosting Bristol Eastern and will be celebrating National Girls and Women's Sports Day. We take this opportunity to not only celebrate girls and women in sport, but the opportunities that have been provided from the trailblazers before us.

We would like to extend an invite to all of you to attend the game and be a part of our celebration. The game starts at 6:45pm, but if you plan to attend please come for 6:15pm as we would like you to be part of our warmup and stand with our team for the National Anthem.

Please wear your town jersey — this will get you into the game for free! We look forward to seeing you all!”*

We would love to see a strong WHGBL turnout from all divisions.

• Minors players:  Be sure to wear your uniform!

• Juniors & Seniors players: Please wear the color (not white) side of your uniform.

• Seniors players: This is a great opportunity to meet Coach Laurie.

Let’s proudly represent WHGBL Tuesday at 6:15pm at Conard High School!

🍞Food Pantry Drive – February 22

On Sunday, February 22, West Hartford basketball leagues will unite to support the West Hartford Food Pantry. Collection boxes will be placed at Conard and Sedgwick during games.

Please begin setting aside non-perishable food items or consider purchasing extra items during your next grocery trip. We will continue sharing reminders and details in upcoming newsletters.

For further details, see the flyer at the bottom of this newsletter or email Danielle Weiss.

⛹️Games with Magic & Out-of-Town Teams

Based on feedback from players, parents, and coaches last year — and the league’s success at the Corpus Christi Middle School “February Frenzy” Tournament over the past 5 years — WHGBL expanded opportunities to play out-of-town teams and the West Hartford Magic.

Recent highlights:

• Precise HVAC defeated East Hartford 25–16

• Siena defeated East Hartford 36–2

East Hartford enjoyed the experience so much that they requested additional games. A combined Siena/Villanova team will play East Hartford today at 11:00am, and another game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, which we are working to fill.

Additional games against Vernon and Cromwell are coming in February for both Juniors and Seniors teams. These experiences help players grow, meet new competitors, and build confidence.

The league also formed Juniors and Seniors All-Star teams, which recently faced strong Magic competition last Saturday. While results were lopsided, the girls demonstrated sportsmanship, resilience, and growth. These All-Star teams are now preparing for the February Frenzy Tournament over Presidents’ Day weekend.

🏀COACHES’ CORNER

🛡️Seniors Division Defense

Teams can level the playing field by:

• Emphasizing help-side defense in the first half

• Implementing zone defense in the second half

• Using full-court and half-court presses strategically

🛡️Minors & Juniors Division Defense

Teaching help-side defense is one of the fastest ways to improve competitiveness and team cohesion.

☯️Spreading the Floor

Across all divisions, players must learn to use space effectively. Running toward the ball-handler draws defenders in and creates easy turnovers. Proper spacing creates passing lanes and scoring opportunities.

• Click here: HELPSIDE DEFENSE Video

• Click here: ZONE DEFENSE Video

Teams seeking additional support should email our Training & Development Director, Craig Tanner.

⚖️RULES REMINDER

🚫Team Fouls & Bonus Free Throws

NFHS rule changes from 2024 season:

• Bonus is now reached after 5 team fouls per quarter

• Two free throws are awarded — no more 1-and-1 situations

• Fouls reset each quarter, not each half

⌛Minors Division Clock & Timeouts

• Each team receives one timeout per game

• The clock does not stop during timeouts

• Clock stops only at the 6-minute substitution mark and end of quarters

🌟SPONSOR’S SPOTLIGHT

Each week, we proudly highlight our league sponsors. We currently have 10 sponsors:

Seniors Division Sponsors

• Common Good Home Buyers

• Dumont Law

• El Pollo Guapo

• On the Court Basketball Training

• Revolution Basketball Training

• Trinh Law

Juniors Division Sponsors

• HARP Home Services

• Joey’s Pizza Pie

• Precise HVAC Home Services

• Siena Private Wealth

Please support the businesses that support our girls.

• Learn more here: SPONSORS

• Interested in sponsoring? Click: SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

💭PARTING PERSPECTIVES

Despite weather challenges, facility issues, and a packed calendar, the heart of WHGBL continues to shine through — resilient players, dedicated coaches, supportive families, and a community committed to opportunity and growth.

Thank you for your flexibility, your sportsmanship, and your ongoing support. We are proud of what this league represents and grateful to share another exciting season with you.

See you in the gym.

Shawn Daly

"Teaching leadership skills through the fundamentals of basketball"