Sacred Heart Greenwich edged by Loomis Chaffee School in championship game of NEPSAC Class A Basketball Tournament

By David Fierro on March 11, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Sacred Heart Greenwich senior point guard Aisha Hassan, right, dribbles the ball while being guarded by senior guard Abby Congdon of Loomis Chaffee School in the NEPSAC Class A Basketball Tournament finals. The Pelicans defeated the Tigers, 51-44, at Loomis Chaffee School.

Sacred Heart Greenwich’s 2024-2025 basketball team will be remembered as the Tigers squad that made school history.

For the first time in school/program history, Sacred Heart earned an appearance in the championship game of the NESPAC Basketball Tournament – the Class A tourney – winning its quarterfinal and semifinal-round matchups in impressive fashion.

One win stood between the Tigers and a New England title, but the team that they had to defeat was a Loomis Chaffee School squad that certainly had a championship pedigree.

The NEPSAC Class A final was close throughout, but top-seeded host Loomis Chaffee used a pivotal third quarter surge to post a hard-fought 51-45 win over second-seeded Sacred Heart Greenwich before a big crowd on March 9. Senior point guard Aisha Hassan scored 15 points and junior guard Eva Wilkerson registered 10 points for Sacred Heart, which finished its sparkling season with a record of 20-5.

**Photo by David Fierro:** Sacred Heart Greenwich junior guard Eva Wilkerson drives the ball toward the basket during the NEPSAC Class A Tournament final against host Loomis Chaffee School on March 9, 2025. Loomis won, 51-45.

“This team is very special, the bond that we have,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve never done this before, so to even make it to the championship was extraordinarily incredible.”

Sophomore guard/forward Lucianna Parrotta added nine points, including two 3-pointers, while senior forward/center/captain Jadamarie Henry totaled seven points, with a 3-pointer, to also pace the Tigers.

“I think we had a great game, our defense held them, they’re usually a super high scoring team, but we were with them the entire game,” Henry said. “We were also getting good looks on offense.”

**Photo by David Fierro**: Lucianna Parrotta of the Tigers varsity basketball team in action at the NEPSAC Class A basketball final against host Loomis Chaffee School on March 9, 2025. Sacred Heart lost the game, 51-45.

SHG trailed Loomis, 12-11, after the first quarter and 23-21 at halftime, as the first two quarters saw the lead see-saw back and forth. A big third quarter proved to be the difference in this NEPSAC championship matchup.

The Pelicans outscored the Tigers, 21-12, in the third quarter to open a 44-33 advantage heading into the final quarter of play. Loomis Chaffee’s balanced scoring effort was ignited by senior forward Alicia Mitchell’s 12 points and senior guard Aniyah Neal’s 11 points. Mitchell also grabbed several key offensive rebounds during the decisive third quarter for the hosts.

“We had a lot of mistakes in the middle of the game, we had a lot of turnovers,” said Hassan, who made three 3-point shots. “They outrebounded us in the third quarter and that made the gap get bigger, we tried to fight as long as we can. We kept talking about how that’s our last game together and that gave us the energy to keep going.”

Jadamarie Henry, a Sacred Heart senior, looks to make a move with the basketball in the low post while being double teamed by Loomis Chaffee School in the NEPSAC Class A Basketball Tournament final at Loomis Chaffee.

Despite facing a daunting 14-point deficit to start the fourth quarter against the three-time defending NEPSAC champions, the Tigers didn’t give in. An 11-0 run to start the quarter pulled Sacred Heart to within 47-44 with under four minutes left to play.

“I thought we took better shots at the end too and our rebounding was much better against a physical, long, athletic team,” SHG coach Ayo Hart said. “We went on a great run, I’m proud of them. This is a really good, seasoned Loomis team, they’ve been here. This is the fourth year in a row they won. I’m proud of what we accomplished given the youth of our team. This is all new to us. I thought we held our own.”

Hassan began the Tigers’ fourth quarter spurt by swishing a 3-pointer, then eighth grader Xoe Henry, who was inserted into the game for defensive purposes, made a basket, cutting Loomis’ lead to 47-38.

Eva Wilkerson of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s varsity basketball team passes the ball in the title game of the NEPSAC tourney.

A free throw by Parrotta, followed by another 3-pointer by Hassan and a layup from Hassan off a steal, brought Sacred Heart to within 47-44 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

“In the third quarter, we definitely had a little dip and they were able to go on a run, but otherwise, I think we really showed who we are and how great our program is and how far we made it,” Jadamarie Henry noted.

The Pelicans outscored the Tigers, 4-1, the last two minutes of action to secure the victory and their fourth consecutive NEPSAC basketball title.

Ava Curto of the Tigers varsity basketball team looks to pass the ball during the championship game of the NEPSAC tourney.

Senior forward Liv Westfort scored 10 points, while senior point guard Abby Congdon and sophomore Leah McKenzie added eight points apiece for the victors. Junior guard Ava Curto and Xoe Henry each had two points for Sacred Heart, which was defeated by Loomis during the regular season, 43-33.

Wilkerson made the game’s first basket, giving SHG a two-point lead and Jadamarie Henry converted a 3-pointer from the left corner, putting the Tigers on top, 14-12, to open the second quarter. Hassan buried a shot from beyond the arc, then scored off a pass from Jadamarie Henry, making it 19-14 in favor of the Tigers.

Trailing 21-18 later in the second quarter, the Pelicans scored the last five points of the second period to go ahead, 23-21 at intermission.

**Photo by David Fierro**: Aisha Hassan of Sacred Heart Greenwich’s varsity basketball team dribbles the ball against Loomis Chaffee School in the title game of the NEPSAC Class A Basketball Tournament at Loomis Chaffee School.

“The team is amazing, we played in the finals,” Hassan said. “I know this was a huge game for the team.”

Wilkerson and senior guard Mackenzie Gillen, also a captain, reflected on their leadership roles throughout this season to remember.

“It was such an honor and humbling experience being able to lead this team,” Gillen said. “We had such a great season and made school history. I couldn’t have done it without such fantastic teammates.”

**Photo by David Fierro**: Eva Wilkerson of Sacred Heart Greenwich, right, looks to move the ball while being defended by Aniyah Neal of Loomis Chaffee School in the NEPSAC Class A final at Loomis Chaffee. The Tigers lost, 51-45.

The season also saw Sacred Heart win the FAA Tournament title for the second straight year, defeating rival St. Luke’s School in the final, 55-34, and capture the FAA regular season championship by going undefeated in league play.

“Winning FAAs was a big, exciting moment, but just bonding with my teammates on and off the court was great,” Gillen noted. “Overnight trips, team dinners, team lunches – I had so much fun getting closer with these girls.”

“We knew it was going to be our last game no matter what, so we had to continue to persevere and push through,” Wilkerson said. “It was a great experience to be able to lead this team through such a successful season. The girls are so special and this team is so special.”

Lucianna Parrotta of Sacred Heart Greenwich dribbles the ball against host Loomis Chaffee in the NEPSAC final.

“I think that this team has so much potential in the coming years and I’m super proud of everyone,” Wilkerson continued. “Everyone gave it their all.”

Hart admired her team’s tenacity, toughness, poise and teamwork.

“This was so memorable this group has been so much fun,” Hart said. “They come with so much energy every day. There was a lot of confidence in this group. No matter who they faced, they came ready to play.”