No matter what the additions and subtractions work out to be when taking stock of graduating and returning pieces for the Hand girls’ basketball team, the one invariable item in its campaign is an equation of success, by progressing on individual and collective levels daily.

Following a 14-6 regular season last winter, Hand earned a spot in the SCC Tournament as the No. 8 seed and defeated No. 9 Hillhouse 49-46 in the first round. The team then bowed out in the quarterfinals to eventual champion and top-seeded Hamden, 39-35.

Then, in the Class MM State Tournament, the Tigers entered the draw also as the No. 8 seed. Hand scored a pair of decisive home victories in the first two rounds, first by a 56-11 final over 25th-seeded Prince Tech in the opening contest on Feb. 27, before breezing past No. 24 Waterford, 63-25 on March 2.

Traveling to top-ranked Northwestern for a quarterfinal matchup on March 6, Hand outlasted the Highlanders for a 54-51, double-overtime triumph. This propelled Hand to the semifinals on March 10 against No. 4 Mercy in the rubber match between the two SCC schools this season.

Unfortunately for Hand, it would see its tremendous season come to a close with an overall record of 18-8, following a 50-27 loss to Mercy in the semifinal round at Guilford High School.

Despite graduating a half dozen seniors from that Final Four run for the Tigers’ March Madness, Hand, currently 0-3 on the year, returns a great deal of veteran talent that certainly got their taste of pressure-packed hoops. At the top are three senior captains in Abbey Richard, patrolling the paint at center, plus guard/forward Ava Davies, and Juliette Brenza, also in the backcourt at guard.

“Abbey Richard is a strong post player who's capable of posting a double-double every night,” said Head Coach Tim Tredwell. “Ava Davies is long, smart, and versatile; she can play multiple positions and is a strong leader by example. Juliette Brenza is a capable three-point shooter, who is not afraid to mix it up defensively.”

Right alongside them in the upperclassmen echelon of the roster is a junior tandem consisting of Morgan Mastrobattisto in the guard spot, and Caroline Courtney, who is doubling down as a guard and forward.

“Morgan Mastrobattisto is a tough and scrappy guard who knows how to win,” said Tredwell. “Caroline Courtney is a multi-skilled athlete who wants to prove she can contribute at the varsity level.”

Hand further boasts its depth up top with additional sophomore sensations in guards Liza Jobson and Katie Butler. Lastly, a duo of freshman forwards has caught the eyes of many in the preseason and early phases of the regular campaign, with Tatum Cash and Ella Bodner.

“Liza Jobson is a talented gym rat with loads of potential. Katie Butler is a high-volume shooter coming off knee surgery,” Tredwell said. “Tatum Cash is a strong scorer with a high basketball IQ. Ella Bodner is a smart defender with a three-point stroke.”

Along the Shoreline, pivotal opponents for the Tigers are always Guilford and Hillhouse. Hand traveled to Guilford on Dec. 18, and host the Grizzlies on Thursday, Jan. 25 for a 7 p.m. tip. Additionally, the Tigers take a trip to Hillhouse on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., and host the Academics on Friday, Feb. 9 with a 7 p.m. start.

Additionally, the Tigers will entertain a tandem of formidable SCC foes from Hamden in Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) (home on Friday, Jan. 19 for a 7 p.m. tip off) and Hamden (Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Green Dragons at 6 p.m.; serving host on Monday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.). Hand will also tack on key non-league adversaries in Farmington (dropping a 58-45 decision on Dec. 13), Hall (at home for a matinee 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, Jan. 27), Norwich Free Academy (NFA) at home on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m., and Cromwell on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 2:30 p.m. as guests of the Panthers.

“After graduating six seniors, every game is key this year,” said Tredwell. “Rivalry games with Guilford and Hillhouse are always important. SHA and Hamden have proven to be two of the top teams in the state. Out-of-conference games vs. Farmington, Hall, NFA, and Cromwell will prove to be challenging.”

Regardless of how the 20-game regular season and hopefully postseason slate play out, Tredwell and his group are geared up for a growth mindset with a mentality of peaking at just the prime time.

“We're hoping to improve everyday and to be playing our best basketball when the postseason hits,” said Tredwell.

Tredwell is back for his 15th campaign as the lead man on the Tigers’ coaching staff, and then assisting him is newcomer Tony Calcagni.

The 2023-2024 Hand girls’ basketball team roster is comprised of seniors Davies, Brenza, Richard; juniors of Courtney, Mastrobattisto; sophomores Jobson, Butler, Lilly Agee, Paige McMullen, Aina`Gali Segues, plus freshmen Cash, Bodner, Annie Tompkins, Mira Thadani, Phoebe Brennan, Maisy Wheeler, Molly McGetrick, Emily Dusza, Caroline Keating, Catie Schneider, Natalie Diep, Gabriella Benevento, and Chloe Wiesbrock.

2023-2024 Hand Girls’ Basketball Regular Season Results and Schedule

Dec. 13: Farmington 58, Hand 45

Dec. 16: Sacred Heart Academy 80, Hand 50

Dec. 19: North Haven 61, Hand 35

Thursday, Dec. 28: at Cromwell at 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 2: vs. Foran at 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 5: vs. Sheehan at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 9: vs. Branford at 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 12: at Hillhouse at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 16: at Hamden at 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 19: vs. Sacred Heart Academy at 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 22: vs. North Haven at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 25: vs. Guilford at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 27: vs. Hall at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 30: at Foran at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 1: at Sheehan at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 6: at Branford at 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9: vs. Hillhouse at 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 12: vs. Hamden at 7 p.m.