This document provides a preview and predictions for the opening round games of the 2022 Connecticut Class M girls basketball state tournament. It summarizes the matchups between the higher and lower seeded teams in each game, highlighting top scorers and team strengths. Lewis Mills, St. Paul Catholic, Sacred Heart, Woodland, Nonnewaug, Seymour, Weston, Tolland, and Windham are predicted to win their first round games based on their records, leading scorers, and common opponents. The winners will advance to play their next opponents as the single-elimination tournament continues.

1. girls basketball tournament Class M

2. Class M 1. Lewis Mills 2. Windham * Qualifying sked on next page 32. N. Fairfield 31. Watertown 16. Montville 15. Seymour 17. SMSA 18. Morgan 8. Kolbe Cath. 7. Sacred Heart 25. St. Bernard 26. Classical 9. Joel Barlow 10. Woodland 24. Prince Tech 23. Waterford State championship game 4. Ellington 3. Plainfield 36. Ledyard 30. N.D.-Fairfld 13. Nonnewaug 14. Weston 20. Coventry 19. Northwestrn 5. St. Paul 6. Tolland 28. Had.-Kill. 27. Ansonia 12. Trinity Cath. 11. Suffield 21. Weaver 22. Bloomfield First rnd: 3/1 Second rnd: 3/4 Quarters: 3/10 Semis: 3/14

3. Preview of opening games No. 1 Lewis Mills (20-0) headlines a field chock full of area teams and hosts No. 32 New Fairfield (10-11), who won its play-in game by beating Stonington, 54-34, on Saturday. Mills will be a heavy favorite for at least its first two games thanks to leading scorer Amanda Adamski (16.7 ppg) and the rest of the Spartans. Lewis Mills gets either No. 16 Montville or No. 17 SMSA with a win. Pick: Lewis Mills No. 5 St. Paul Catholic (16-4) faces No. 28 Haddam-Killingworth (10-10) with the winner advancing to take on either No. 12 Trinity Catholic or No. 21 Weaver. The Falcons haven’t been on the top of their game over the last two weeks or so and need to pick it up in a hurry if they want to return to Mohegan Sun Arena. Amber Litwinko (16.6 ppg) gives St. Paul a go-to scorer in the clutch. Pick: St. Paul Catholic. No. 7 Sacred Heart (15-5) hosts No. 26 Classical Magnet (11-9) for a spot in the second round against either No. 10 Woodland or No. 23 Waterford. The Hearts have had an excellent season, led by Jen Massicotte (13.0 ppg) and Mikyla Jacobs (11.0 ppg). The two teams’ common opponent was St. Paul; the Hearts won, Classical was blown out. Pick: Sacred Heart. No. 10 Woodland (15-5) welcomes No. 23 Waterford (12-8) as the Hawks look for their first state tournament win since 2005. Woodland’s potent duo of Heather Framski (20.1 ppg) and Lindsay Feducia (12.5 ppg) are always reliable, but the Hawks’ games usually come down to what the supporting cast produces. The winner meets the winner of the Sacred Heart-Classical Magnet game. Pick: Woodland.

4. Preview of opening games No. 13 Nonnewaug (14-6) hosts No. 20 Coventry (11-6) with the winner facing either No. 4 Ellington or No. 36 Ledyard. The Chiefs boast the top scorer in the Berkshire League in Caitlin Drakeley (17.7 ppg) as well as Katie Burke (12.3 ppg). This should be a good test for the BL and has the potential to go down to the wire. Pick: Nonnewaug. No. 15 Seymour (13-7) is the final area team to host a Class M home game and welcomes No. 18 Morgan (13-7) to the Wildcats’ tight quarters. Seymour features an excellent, versatile post player in Christina Cretella (20.0 ppg). If teams can take her out of the action, the ‘Cats are a completely different team. But that’s easier said than done. The winner here faces No. 2 Windham or No. 31 Watertown. Pick: Seymour. No. 19 Northwestern (13-7) hits the long road to No. 14 Weston (13-7) for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. It will be interesting to see how the lengthy trip affects Northwestern, which doesn’t have a player averaging double-figure scoring but has five averaging between 5.9 and 8.9 points per game. The winner meets either No. 3 Plainfield or No. 30 Notre Dame-Fairfield. Pick: Weston. No. 27 Ansonia (10-10) also has a long trip as the Chargers head up to No. 6 Tolland (15-5). Ansonia is led by a fantastic scorer in Melissa Tirella (15.7 ppg) who can really take over a game. This one could be tough for the Chargers, though, as Tolland usually puts together a very strong team. The winner faces either No. 11 Suffield or No. 22 Bloomfield. Pick: Tolland.

5. Preview of opening games No. 31 Watertown (10-11) earned its way into the tournament by winning its play-in game against Lyman Memorial, 43-39, on Saturday. Now the Indians head up to No. 2 Windham (17-3) in what will be a difficult challenge for Watertown. The lack of a big scorer might hurt the Indians, but they feature the competitive Jess Spezzano, who averages a team-high 8.6 points per game. And sophomore Jamie Zoldy(at right) has been on fire of late, scoring a career-best 18 in a win over Lyman Memorial Saturday night. The winner will go on to play either No. 15 Seymour or No. 18 Morgan. Pick: Windham. Previews, picks by Kyle Brennan