Northwest Catholic Girls Basketball Wins CCC Title After 3 State Crowns

The Lions' senior captains finally capture the conference championship they had long sought.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Northwest Catholic girls basketball team in West Hartford, Connecticut has won three straight state titles, but the group of seniors had never won a CCC tournament title until Monday night. Led by senior captains Maeve Staunton, Abigail Casper, and Zoey Canning, Northwest Catholic beat Rocky Hill 72-34 to claim the CCC tournament championship.

Why it matters

Northwest Catholic's girls basketball program has been a dominant force in Connecticut, winning three consecutive state titles. However, the team had struggled to capture the elusive CCC tournament championship, which had served as motivation for their postseason runs. This title represents a significant milestone for the senior-led squad.

The details

Northwest Catholic was the top seed in the CCC tournament this year. In the championship game, Staunton led the way with 24 points, while Casper added 14 and Canning had 9. Casper also broke the all-time school scoring record earlier in the season and in the CCC semifinal game. The Lions dominated from the start, racing to a 17-9 lead after the first quarter and a 40-13 halftime advantage.

  • Northwest Catholic won the Class S state title their freshman year in 2023.
  • Two years ago, in 2024, they made it to the CCC tournament final but lost to Windsor.
  • Last year, in 2025, they fell to eventual CCC champion Southington in the semifinals but won their third straight state title.
  • This year, in 2026, the Northwest Catholic seniors finally captured the CCC tournament championship on Monday, March 2.

The players

Maeve Staunton

A senior captain who will play soccer at UConn next year.

Abigail Casper

A senior captain who broke the all-time school scoring record and will play at Holy Cross next year.

Zoey Canning

A senior captain on the Northwest Catholic girls basketball team.

Alison Connors

The head coach of the Northwest Catholic girls basketball team.

Matt Curtis

The previous holder of the all-time boys and girls scoring record at Northwest Catholic, with 1,911 points in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“Freshman year we didn't even make the tournament. We spoke of this for four years and for it to come to fruition is crazy. We finally got it. It's good but we're ready for states and we want that state championship.”

— Maeve Staunton, Senior Captain (courant.com)

“It was good for me, but I wanted to get it for our team to get it back, the all-time scoring record, to the girls program. That was my main goal. I was happy to be able to do that. It shows all the hard work I put in for myself.”

— Abigail Casper, Senior Captain (courant.com)

“It did serve as fuel knowing we don't want to lose again. But this year, too, after winning this – we want to win another state championship. This is great but that's where it's at. That's the big deal.”

— Abigail Casper, Senior Captain (courant.com)

“Our defense really showed up – that's what we hang our hat on. When our defense is good like that, there's not much you can do to stop us.”

— Maeve Staunton, Senior Captain (courant.com)

“It's a full circle moment for these seniors. Their freshman year they didn't even make it. We were 17th in the CCC. We lost on a tiebreaker. I'm so excited for them. This was one of their big boxes to check off during the season.”

— Alison Connors, Head Coach (courant.com)

What’s next

Northwest Catholic, the top seed in Division I, will play their first state tournament game against Conard on March 9 as they pursue a fourth consecutive state championship.

The takeaway

Northwest Catholic's girls basketball program has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, overcoming early tournament disappointments to become a dominant force in Connecticut high school basketball. Their CCC tournament title represents the culmination of years of hard work and a testament to the leadership of their senior captains.