Portland Girls Honored with Banquet

The celebrating continued Tuesday night for the state champion Portland girls’ basketball team.

The banquet honoring the girls was well-attended at the high school, including First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, members of the board of education, high school Principal Andrea Lavery and other staff as well as many friends and family.

Most small towns such as Portland do not frequently get an opportunity to celebrate a state title, so this was a chance for the town to do just that. Perhaps just as much, it was a chance to recognize a group of young ladies who took their school and town by storm.

As coach Nick Chaconis said, “Winning is contagious.” So to was rooting for this group. Beginning sometime during the 2009-10 season, its following began to swell. This was evident throughout this season as well, especially during the state tournament. Whether at home or at the semifinal in Manchester, Portland fans were there. At the title game at the Mohegan Sun Arena, word is Portland was the best represented of all the schools participating. Against Cromwell, Portland supporters outnumbered Cromwell’s by four to one, maybe more. Doesn’t matter. If you were there, you saw it and heard it.

And as they have since their victory March 18, the Highlanders are still seeing it and hearing it.

“It’s just never ending. The compliments. I’ve got emails, cards from former players,” Chaconis said. “The school is on that high level of euphoria. It’s brought everybody together.”

Tuesday night’s affair began with a congratulatory message from Lavery and Bransfield presenting Chaconis and assistant coach Diane Coleman with a certificate from the town recognizing the team's achievement. The evening continued with dinner catered by Farrell’s Restaurant. Chaconis then introduced guest speaker Gene Reilly, Portland’s legendary coach, and member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. After Reilly spoke, the members of the team were given a bracelet commemorating their achievement. Then came the unveiling of the championship banner, which will proudly hang in the gym.

“For the team, for the school, it's been great. It’s just been a fantastic feeling,” Chaconis said.  “You just love it. You just got to love it. I couldn’t be happier for this whole town.”

And the whole town will soon get to see another banner, this one hung across Main Street congratulating the team.