Stonington Bears Edge New London Whalers in Overtime Girls' Basketball Thriller

Sophomore forward Sophie Hoinsky leads Stonington comeback with 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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In a thrilling girls' basketball matchup, the Stonington Bears overcame a 20-point halftime deficit to defeat the New London Whalers 63-59 in overtime. Stonington forward Sophie Hoinsky, who finished with 22 points, led the Bears' comeback, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The game was tied 56-56 at the end of regulation before Stonington pulled ahead in the extra period.

Why it matters

This victory is a significant boost for the Stonington Bears as they look to improve their seeding for the state tournament. The Bears' ability to rally from a large deficit and prevail in overtime showcases their resilience and conditioning, which will serve them well in the postseason. For New London, the loss is disappointing, but the Whalers' strong first-half performance demonstrates their potential and ability to compete with top teams in the region.

The details

Stonington trailed New London 33-18 at halftime, but the Bears chipped away at the deficit in the second half. Hoinsky, who had just 3 points at the break, erupted for 12 points in the fourth quarter to lead Stonington's comeback. The Bears outscored the Whalers 19-7 in the final period to force overtime. In the extra period, the teams traded leads, but Hoinsky made key free throws and had a crucial blocked shot in the final minute to secure the victory for Stonington.

  • Stonington trailed New London 33-18 at halftime.
  • New London extended its lead to 38-18 to start the third quarter.
  • Stonington outscored New London 19-7 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 56-56 and force overtime.

The players

Sophie Hoinsky

A sophomore forward for the Stonington Bears who finished the game with 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter to lead the team's comeback.

Addy Cadmus

A player for the Stonington Bears who scored 24 points in the game.

Nyarah Dudley

A player for the New London Whalers who scored 18 points in the game.

Joarelisse Guzman

A player for the New London Whalers who hit four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.

Jaidelise Rivera

A player for the New London Whalers who scored 16 points, including a 3-pointer in overtime.

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What they’re saying

“We're doing so much conditioning at practice and it's really showing and paying off. I think a big thing about our team is that we do so much conditioning at practice and we hate it. But it helps us so much because we never get tired or lazy at the end.”

— Sophie Hoinsky, Stonington Forward (theday.com)

“We really needed this win to get higher at states and I think we all just pushed through so hard. We had a good talk in the locker room (at halftime). We won because we all just pushed through really hard.”

— Sophie Hoinsky, Stonington Forward (theday.com)

What’s next

The Bears will look to continue their winning streak and improve their seeding for the state tournament with their next game against a conference opponent.

The takeaway

Stonington's comeback victory showcases the team's resilience, conditioning, and ability to work together, which will serve them well as they aim for a deep run in the state tournament. The loss is a tough one for New London, but the Whalers demonstrated their potential and will look to bounce back in their remaining games.