First Girls Basketball Poll of 2019-20 Released

CONNECTICUT — A panel of coaches and sports media members has completed its initial balloting in the Connecticut high school girls basketball poll, and defending Class LL champion Norwalk is sitting on top of the rankings.

The Bears collected 11 of 18 first-place votes to place ahead of Daniel Hand, which had two top nods. Notre Dame-Fairfield had four first-place ballots, while New London had one.

Here are the top 10, as well as all other teams receiving votes. NOTE: balloting was completed Sunday, prior to Monday's start of the regular season.

1. Norwalk
2. Daniel Hand
3. Notre Dame-Fairfield
4. Cromwell
5. New London
6. Hillhouse
7. E.O. Smith
8. Wilbur Cross
9. Hamden
10. Norwich Free Academy

Also receiving votes: Berlin, East Lyme, Trumbull, Newtown, East Catholic, Windsor, Newington, East Haven, Staples, Sheehan, Stamford, Trinity Catholic, East Hartford, St. Paul, Mercy, Canton, Bacon Academy, Wethersfield, Fairfield Ludlowe, Kolbe Cathedral, Bethel, Bristol Eastern, Farmington, Waterford, Pomperaug, Capital Prep.

Voters: Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Ryan Lacey, Danbury News-Times; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Mike Madera, New Haven Register; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Newspapers; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Scotty Nails, RCDS; Brian Medeiros, Canton; Vickie Fulkerson, New London Day; Fred Williams, Northwestern Regional; Rick Wilson, Waterbury Republican American; Sean Krofssik, Record-Journal; Ryan Chichester, Bristol Press; Rich Zalusky, The Chronicle; Dave Danko, Fairfield Warde; Adam Betz, Journal Inquirer.