On March 10, 2026, the Lewis Mills High School girls basketball team showcased their skills in a decisive victory over Avon, defeating them 58-33 in the CIAC Division III tournament. The match took place at the Thunderdome in Burlington, marking a significant moment in the tournament for the sixth-seeded Mills team, who faced off against the 22nd-seeded Avon.
Lewis Mills started the game with an impressive burst, taking a commanding 15-2 lead in the first quarter. However, Avon’s coach, Drew Faucher, quickly adapted, implementing a pressing strategy as key players from Mills found themselves plagued by foul trouble. Star guard Layla Ljubuncic was notably impacted, receiving her second foul in the final minute of the first quarter. Other starters, Brooke Martineau and Liza Putnam, also faced similar challenges.
Game Highlights
Despite the early dominance by Mills, Avon managed to claw back, reducing the lead to just four points by halftime, with the score sitting at 22-16. The second half, however, saw Mills come out guns blazing, initiating the third quarter with an impressive 11-0 run that extended their lead to 45-25.
Ljubuncic emerged as the standout performer, scoring a remarkable 22 points, while Caitlyn Putnam contributed 14 points and Jillian Tiso added another 10 points to the scoreboard. On the Avon side, Colleen Mahoney was the top scorer with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide in favor of her team.
The scoring breakdown for Lewis Mills was as follows: Jillian Tiso (10 points), Caitlyn Putnam (14 points), Layla Ljubuncic (22 points), and contributions from other players totaling 58 points. Avon’s scoring included Colleen Mahoney (16 points), Candace Graves (6 points), and others, bringing their total to 33 points. Notably, Mills made a significant impact from beyond the arc, with Caitlyn Putnam sinking two three-pointers and Layla Ljubuncic hitting four, while Avon’s Haley Chisholm, Sam Srb, and Colleen Mahoney each connected from long range.
Upcoming Challenges
With this victory, Lewis Mills advanced to the state quarterfinals, where they are set to face No. 3 Suffield on Thursday at 6 p.m. Suffield recently secured a close win against Kolbe Cathedral, finishing 56-53. Both teams have a shared history against common opponents; Suffield managed to defeat Simsbury and Conard, while Mills has a split record against Simsbury but emerged victorious against Conard.
Interestingly, Avon made it to this stage after a surprising win against No. 11 Wilby, taking them down 63-37, and they were one of only two seeds above 20 to survive the first round of the tournament. This victory is part of a larger trend in the CIAC tournaments this year, as two out of five classes began their competitions, with no major upsets reported on the first day, except for Avon and Platt’s unexpected advances.
For more details on the tournament’s dynamics and other results, you can check out the full coverage at Yahoo Sports.
As fans gear up for the next round, the excitement surrounding the CIAC Division III tournament continues to grow, with teams vying for glory and the chance to advance further in the competition. The journey is just beginning, and the stakes are high!
For further context on this thrilling tournament, click here to read more about the CIAC girls basketball championships and the remarkable performances we’ve witnessed so far this season at Collinsville Press.