Behind 31 points and 22 rebounds from the senior frontcourt duo of Nora Bahgat and Emily Thomas Cheshire knocked off SCC Housatonic Division foe Lyman Hall 57-47 tonight.
Though they did face a handful of tough teams, the Rams kicked off the season with a sluggish 0-5 start. They have won four of their last five since and play their next five games at home.

On another note, Wilbur Cross senior Chantell Alford hit 1,000 career points with a 21-point performance tonight in a 55-41 win over Branford. For more on Alford, check out Monday's girls' basketball notebook.

-- Chris Hunn, chunn@nhregister.com.

North Haven beat Wilbur Cross 68-60 last night, handing the Governors their first loss in the division in more than three years. Ironically, Elvin Rodriguez, a transfer from Cross, led the Indians with 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

This is not a shock: North Haven was expected to be much better with almost every starter back and with Rodriguez now a part of things. But can North Haven keep it up?

Lyman Hall, Career and East Haven are the Indians' next three games. Time will tell if North Haven can hold up.

If you are looking for a good game this evening, take the trip to Waterbury to see undefeated Sacred Heart at undefeated Holy Cross for NVL supremacy. The teams are ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Register Top 10 poll.

Hillhouse coach Catrina Hawley-Stewart said starting point guard Andreanna Thomas will miss Friday's game against Law with an ankle injury.

--Chris Hunn, chunn@nhregister.com

Hillhouse senior Dannisha Pierce scored a career-high 39 points and pulled down 25 rebounds for the Academics, who beat Foran 75-41 tonight. It was both teams' Southern Connecticut Conference Hammonasset Division opener. Pierce is the area's leading scorer, pouring in 24 points per game this season. Hillhouse is No. 6 in the Register Top 10 poll.

Here's a list of area girls' basketball games, which were postponed today...

SCC Oronoque
East Haven at Wilbur Cross, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Non-league
Derby at Platt Tech, ppd. to Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
Shoreline
Westbrook at Cromwell. ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.

Here's a look at today's area girls' basketball games, which were postponed...

CSC
Whitney Tech at Kaynor Tech, ppd., tba
O’Brien Tech at Abbott Tech, ppd. to Monday, 6 p.m.
Goodwin Tech at Platt Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
NVL
Wolcott at Ansonia, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Law at Guilford, ppd. to Saturday, 7 p.m.
Foran at Hillhouse, ppd. to Wednesday
SCC Oronoque
East Haven at Wilbur Cross, ppd. to Wednesday
NVL
Kennedy at Woodland, ppd. to Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
Seymour at Crosby, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
Shoreline
Haddam-Killingworth at Hyde (Truman School), ppd., tba
Westbrook at Cromwell, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.
East Hampton at Morgan, ppd., tba
SWC
Lauralton Hall at Brookfield, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
Oxford at Immaculate, ppd. to Thursday, 7 p.m.
Weston at Stratford, ppd., tba

-- Chris Hunn, chunn@nhregister.com

Mercy girls' basketball coach Tim Kohs said today seniors Rachel Roberts and Bianca Simmons are suspended until Jan. 20 for violating school and team rules. The backcourt duo is averaging 35.2 points per game this season. The Tigers have dropped three straight -- all without Roberts and Simmons -- with the latest being a 58-53 loss to Branford.

-- Chris Hunn, chunn@nhregister.com.

After watching Hillhouse blitz Cross Saturday...

If there was any debate before, there isn't any longer: Hillhouse is the team to beat in the league. They have too much depth and length for the other teams. Their first and fourth quarters were reminiscent of their state title seasons.

But their second and third quarters reminded me of last season when they went long stretches being unable to score. In those instances, Hillhouse must create off of its defense to be successful.

The second-best team in the league? Hard to say. Lyman Hall travels to Sheehan Tuesday in what could be a holy war of sorts. Sheehan is coming off a tough one-point loss to Xavier Saturday, but should be ready to go in trying to gain some revenge for last season's two losses to its crosstown rival. Remember, 6 p.m. start time, not 7.

The problem with determining which team is second-best is how the SCC conducts its scheduling. Whether you agree with it or not, and most don't, the reality is this.

Lyman Hall doesn't play Hillhouse or Wilbur Cross during the regular season
Hamden doesn't play Hillhouse or Wilbur Cross during the regular season. Has that ever happened before?

anyhow, it should make for a better SCC tournament with every team that qualifies for the state tournament reaches the league tournament. Although I prefer the old eight-team format, it should make for some good matchups - I hope. Those matchups sometimes never materialize.

For now, it's Lyman Hall, Wilbur Cross, then Xavier. Plenty of good teams in this league.

As far as the Register top 10 poll goes, there should be no change to the top three: Trinity Catholic, Windsor and Hillhouse. All three legitimately could have undefeated regular seasons. And with Trinity in Class L and the other two in Class LL, it could lead to an interesting debate.

Of course, there is plenty of time left for everything to sort itself out.

But if you want to check out a league where EVERYONE PLAYS EVERYONE, undefeated Saced Heart plays undefeated Holy Cross Tuesday night for Naugatuck Valley League supremacy. This looks to be the year where Crosby finally gets dethroned.