Bethel Girls Celebrate First Conference Basketball Title

BETHEL, Conn. -- Bethel High School's girls basketball team made history Wednesday night as it defeated New Fairfield, 44-37, at a packed Newtown High School to win its first South-West Conference tournament championship.

The Bethel High School girls basketball team celebrates its first South-West Conference championship Wednesday night.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Bethel High School girls basketball coach Anderson Rawlins celebrates with the championship trophy.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Bethel's Amanda Towey splits defenders and drives to the basket during Wednesday's championship game against New Fairfield.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Bethel's Lily Daniels shoots against New Fairfield.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Bethel senior Anne Bedore, 2, celebrates after the victory.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

The Bethel girls basketball team celebrates in front of fans after defeating New Fairfield for the SWC title.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Bethel seniors (left to right) Sofia Orrico, Meggy Dolan, Amanda Towey, Madison Byrnes and Anne Bedore celebrate with the championship banner.
Photo Credit: *Flickr/Bethel Public Schools*

Tom Renner

02/23/2017 4:00 p.m.

Tournament MVP Lily Daniels scored 12 points to pace a balanced attack for the No. 2 seeded Wildcats, 20-3. Amanda Towey added 12 points and Meggy Dolan scored 11 for Bethel. Both girls were named to the All-Tournament team along with Daniels.

The title was the first in league history for Bethel, which was playing its first SWC championship game and finished 9-12 last year. New Fairfield, the 2015 champions, played in its third straight league title game. New Fairfield won a regular-season contest between the teams, 43-37.

Bethel will now move on to the Class M state tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Wildcats open the tournament with a home game Tuesday at 7 p.m. against No. 28 Tolland.

Bethe is coached by Anderson Rawlins. Team members are Mia Prazeres, Annie Bedore, Sofia Orrico, Amanda Towey, Vicky Gracy, Lily Daniels, Meggy Dolan, Anna Riolo, Maddie Byrnes, Morghann Bell, Gabriella Mendonca, Britney Roach, Maranda Nyborg and Abby Saunders.

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