Guilford Boys’ Hoops Goes to 8-0 and Makes Playoffs; Boys’ Hockey, Both Fencing Squads Continue to Roll
Boys’ Basketball
The Guilford boys’ basketball team remained undefeated and qualified for both the SCC and State Tournaments after recording three more victories last week. Head Coach Jeff DeMaio’s squad is now 8-0 overall with a record of 2-0 in the SCC Hammonasset Division this year.
The Indians defeated Lyman Hall 71-55 on Jan. 8 and then scored a 66-55 overtime win over divisional opponent Fairfield Prep on Jan. 10. Noah Rubino scored 20 points for the Indians in the Prep victory. Guilford then clinched its spot in states with a 65-41 win over Hammonasset foe Sheehan on Jan. 12.
Girls’ Basketball
The Indians lost two of their three games last week and are now 5-4 overall with a record of 1-2 in SCC Hammonasset Division. Guilford took a 78-38 loss to Mercy on Jan. 8 and lost 61-52 against Rocky Hill the next night. However, Guilford ended its four-game losing streak by scoring a 74-40 victory over Branford on Jan. 12.
Facing Rocky Hill, Guilford fell behind 41-31, before going on a 12-4 run to close the third quarter to trail 45-43. Rocky Hill kept the pressure on and, when the Indians were unable to convert on four consecutive free throws, Rocky Hill knocked down six straight from the line to seal the win. Despite the loss, Head Coach Bob Welsh said he “was happy with the team effort against a solid opponent.” Janie Danaher led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points for Guilford. Amanda King tallied 11 points, and Julia Hyman and Sam Leiby each contributed with nine points.
Against Branford, Guilford got out of the gate quickly as King hit a three-pointer just eight seconds into the game, and the Indians exploded for a 17-2 run. The Hornets battled back and closed the quarter on a run to cut the Guilford lead to 22-16 to close out the first quarter. Guilford kept up the hot shooting as the Indians scored 20 points in the second period to take a 42-25 lead to the locker room. The Indians shot a season-high 58 percent from the field en route to the decisive win. King and Molly Linell led all scorers with 16 and 15 points, respectively. King hit for four threes to go along with five steals. The Indians’ defense held Branford to four second-half field goals.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
The Indians improved to 6-1 after posting wins over New Milford and Branford last week. Guilford defeated New Milford 9-4 on Jan. 10 and then beat Branford by a 4-2 final on Jan. 12 in last week’s action.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
Guilford moved to 3-7 after dropping contests against West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy and Hamden last week.
The Indians first took a 6-2 loss to West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy on Jan. 9. Guilford then lost to Guilford 9-0 against Hamden on Jan. 12.
Boys’ and Girls’ Fencing
The Indians’ fencing program competed against Morgan on Jan. 9 and Hand on Jan. 12 and continued its stellar start to the season by picking up some more victories. The girls’ team now has a record of 9-0, while the boys are 8-1.
Guilford’s boys’ and girls’ teams both scored 20-7 victories over the Huskies last week, with its boys’ épée and girls’ foil team each claiming 8-1 wins. Both of the Indians’ sabre teams won 5-4 decisions. On the girls’ side, Lindsey Smith (foil), Isabella LaBella (foil), and Faren Roth (épée) all went 3-0 on the evening. On the boys’ side, Bailey Myers and Oscar Scott won all three of their bouts in épée.
Against Hand, the boys posted a 26-1 victory, while the girls prevailed 19-8. Boys’ sabre, boys’ épée, and girls’ sabre all claimed 9-0 victories for the Indians. Also for the girls, épée won 7-2 and foil took a 6-3 defeat. Boys’ foil lost by a 5-4 score.
On the girls’ side, Guilford’s entire sabre squad went undefeated on the night. Roth (épée) went undefeated by winning three bouts with scores of 5-4, 5-1, and 5-2. Gracie Banning (épée) won her two bouts with scores of 5-4. For the boys, Joran Nelson (foil) won his two bouts, 5-0, 5-2. Brendan Balestracci (foil) also went undefeated with two 5-0 victories and a 5-2 win. Matt Gedrich (foil) won his first bout 5-1 and then took his second bout by a score of 5-2.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The Indians competed at their second SCC Developmental meet of the season on Jan. 8 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center.
Guilford dominated the 1,600-meter run with Meredith Bloss winning the event in a time of 5:36.98 over second-place Janay De’Davis of Hillhouse (5:41.94). Also in that event, Alex Greene finished fourth (5:44.79), Gianna Siciliano was fifth (5:45.55), and Kelsi Putnam took ninth (5:46.99).
Additionally for Guilford, Jacqui Guerra finished second in the 600 (1:41.43), Sofia Migani was runner-up in the high jump at 4 feet-10 inches, Chloe Shaw placed fifth in the 300 (45.73); the 4x400 relay of Julia Esposito, Putnam, Siciliano, and Alyssa Lent finished sixth (4:23.79); and Bloss came in 10th place for the 600 at 1:50.74.
Boys’ Indoor Track
Guilford took part in the SCC Developmental meet last week.
Corey Sondak finished third in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.63 seconds for the Indians. Will Smith took eighth in the 600 (1:29.23); the 1,600 sprint medley relay of Sondak, McKendry Eschinger, Joe Walters, and Smith finished 10th (3:54.93); and Connor Rose placed 10th in the shot put with a throw of 39-1.