Brynn Gingras is the quintessential point guard: She has the knack for finding other people first and creating her own scoring opportunities second.

Jenn Piazza is usually the first person Gingras finds. She's a pure shooter, with the added dimension of creating offense off the dribble.

Together, Gingras and Piazza form the backcourt for the Lyman Hall of Wallingford girls' basketball team. They form arguably the best backcourt in the Southern Connecticut Conference

"Brynn has leadership qualities that are very good," said Lyman Hall coach Al Lewis, whose Trojans are 8-2. "Jenn has a good basketball brain, probably from being a gym rat."

Cheshire coach Joe Ticotsky said: "I always judge how good players are by how much time opposing coaches take putting in game plans against them. I'm positive coaches spend the majority of their time figuring out how to stop the two of them."

Gingras, a senior who will play at Yale next season, is averaging 14.5 points. At 5 feet 7, she usually has a size advantage over her defenders.

"As a point guard, I try to concentrate on having an all-around game," Gingras said. "You want to have more assists and less turnovers. When Jenn scores, I'm usually giving her the assist."

Piazza, a junior, has been scoring at a higher rate this season (18.1, sixth best in the area). She has always been known as a dangerous jump shooter, but now she's determined to also get to the basket to score. She started to adjust her game over the summer, while playing for the Connecticut Starters 15-Under Amateur Athletic Union team.

"Coach (Nick) Economopoulos (of East Catholic of Manchester) was my summer coach," Piazza said. "For a couple of games, he had me not shoot at all, just drive to the basket."

But offense isn't the complete picture for these Trojans. Lewis constantly stresses defense and rebounding. Those who don't, find a seat next to him on the bench.

"Brynn does a little bit of everything, which makes her invaluable," Lewis said. "They (the players) see it and say, 'Whoa! There's the senior captain.' She never comes out of the game. she continues to go, even when she's dead tired."

"Jenn is an accomplished offensive player and has gotten better. I think she needs to follow Gingras more in learning how to make her teammates better. Is it her team to take over (next year)? Definitely."

Gingras and Piazza have been playing together for nearly three seasons. Lyman Hall captured the SCC title two years ago, the crown jewel of their careers so far.

How good are they together? Piazza doesn't hesitate. "I think we are the best backourt (in the SCC)," she said.

By being the best, Lewis said, you have to be able to beat the best.

"To be considered the best backcourt, you have to do something," Lewis said.  You have to get past the second round (of the state tournament). Take a team like NFA (Norwich Free Academy). (Point gurad) Saona Chapman doesn't score a lot of points for them, but she does all the little things."

Chapman and NFA went undefeated last season in winning the Class LL title. The Trojans, on the other hand, have lost in the tournament's second round the last three years.

That is a sticking point for Gingras and Piazza. They feel a sense of urgency to make a final run as teammates.

"I don't think the entire team has the same goal (of getting past the second round)," Tingras said. "We have to take it seriously. It may be a bad thing to say, but I don't think everyone here has the same goal."

Piazza injured her wrist during the SCC tournament two years ago and watched as her teammates defeated Guilford and Hillhourse to win the title.

"That was unbelievable," Piazza said.

The Trojans haven't beaten either team since, including this season.

"When we played Guilford in the SCC tournament last year, it was disgusting," Gingras said about the 68-47 loss in the semifinals.

"Guilford and Hillhouse have beaten everyone in our league the last two years," Lewis said. "You have to measure yourself against them."

Lyman Hall's win against town rival Sheehan on Friday (January 14, 2000) has given the Trojans the inside track on recapturing the SCC Housatonic Division after failing repeat last season. A spot in the league tournament is almost secure.

But Gingras and Piazza have their sights set on leading the Trojans to a succesful ending to this season.

"When the game comes down to the closing minutes, we have to work together to finish up," Piazza said of the backcourt. "If we play a really good team and we play with all of our heart and still lose, I can accept that. But if we lose without all of us playing at our best, it will be disappointing."