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12/29/2016 11:00 PMBoys’ Basketball
The North Branford boys’ basketball team has started the season at 3-1 and won two straight contests on the road after a home loss to Creed on Dec. 20. Junior Brett Lequire has recorded a double-double in each of the T-Birds’ three most recent games.
The Creed game was close throughout, but North Branford allowed 21 points in the fourth quarter and took a 56-49 defeat. Lequire had 30 points and 11 rebounds for North Branford.
On Dec. 22, The Thunderbirds defeated Westbrook 56-53. Lequire scored 23 and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Jimmy Augur recorded 14 points in the win.
The T-Birds followed that up with a 49-28 victory over Thomaston on Dec. 27. Lequire finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and six steals, plus Gianni Lavorgna contributed 13 points for North Branford.
Girls’ Basketball
The T-Birds are 2-2 through their first four games this year with both wins coming on the road.
After posting a 34-32 win at Haddam-Killingworth to start the season on Dec. 13, North Branford lost its home opener to Branford, 49-36, on Dec. 19. Kelly Oliver (20 points) and Morgan Violette (14 points) accounted for all but two of North Branford’s points, with Jess Kilburn getting the other basket.
The next day, North Branford went on the road and defeated Creed 37-20. The T-Birds’ defense didn’t allow more than eight points in any quarter in the victory. Oliver led all scorers with 15 points and Violette reeled in a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
On Dec. 22, North Branford lost a heartbreaker at home to Westbrook in overtime, 57-52. Westbrook outscored North Branford 18-10 in the fourth quarter and then won the overtime period 6-1. Violette scored 23 points. Angelina Ramada scored nine, and Danielle Ramada added eight.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
North Branford has won its last two games after dropping its opening contest to Guilford and is 2-1 to open the season.
On Dec. 20, the T-Birds lost to Guilford 4-1 after allowing three third period goals. The lone North Branford goal came off the stick of Brian McKee and was assisted by Jacob Neubig early in the third period. Tyler Odice made 36 saves for the Thunderbirds.
Following that loss, North Branford defeated South Windsor 3-1 on Dec. 23 and Trumbull 4-1 on Dec. 28. Against South Windsor, John Lovelace earned the win in goal. Marc Daddio, Brian McKee, and Scott Clinton scored three unanswered goals for North Branford in the victory.
Against Trumbull, Brian McKee scored twice, while Sean McKee and Clinton each scored once, and Lovelace got the win between the pipes.
Boys’ Indoor Track
North Branford competed at the Shoreline Developmental Meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Dec. 14.
Top individual performers for the T-Birds included Michael Rabuffo in the long jump (3rd, 17-9) and high jump (2nd, 5-6) and Jacob Marshall in the 55 (1st, 6.58). In the relays, the 4x800 team of Joey DeLucia, Jason Ash, John Pellegrino, and Tony Pavic finished at 10:13.65; the 4x400 relay of Michael Madoule, Austin Gibilisco, Rabuffo, and Marshall timed in at 3:51.92; and the 4x200 team of Marshall, Aaron Beisaw, Pat Miconi, and Anthony Sarmento clocked in at 1:49.49.
On Dec. 19, North Branford competed in the Old Saybrook Invite and finished in 10th place overall. Top individual performances came from Marshall in the 55 (6th, 7.10); Madoule in the 600 (4th, 1:32.2); Gibilisco in the 600 (8th, 1:35.1); and Rabuffo in the 300 (4th, 40.10) and high jump (4th, 5-6). For the relays, the 4x800 team of Parker Nadeau, DeLucia, Pavic, and Pellegrino finished eighth at 10:04.40 and the 4x400 unit of Beisaw, Freddie Little, Pavic, and Noah Taylor placed sixth at 4:09.60.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The T-Birds took part in the Shoreline Developmental Meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Dec. 14.
North Branford’s top showings came from Jenna Bryden in the 55 (2nd, 7.27); Grace Little in the 55 (9th, 7.91); Winnie Chan in the high jump (1st, 4-10); Joselyn Streeto in the high jump (2nd, 4-6); Emily Muzyka in the shot put (5th, 29-2.5); and Carly Monge in the shot put (7th, 24-11). For the relays, the 4x800 team of Erika Roof, Caitlin May, Sarah Sullivan, and Jillian Dmiani finished at 12:06.43; the 4x400 of Bryden, Little, Sarah Criscuolo, and Lydia Mattson finished at 4:46.44; and the 4x200 squad of Little, Byrden, Criscuolo, and Gabbie Sarmento ran a 2:04.27.
On Dec. 19, the Thunderbirds competed in the Old Saybrook Invite and claimed third place. Top individual performances for the girls were delivered by Little, who won the 55 at 7.40; and Chan, who won the high jump at 4-foot-6. Other great performances came from Bryden in the 55 (7th, 7.70) and 300 (4th, 47.60); Streeto in the high jump (3rd, 4-4), Muzyka in the shot put (2nd, 33-1.5); Deanna Sgambato in the pole vault (3rd, 7-0); Little in the 300 (2nd, 46.90). In the relays, the 4x800 of Mackenzie Glenn, May, Damiani, and Roof placed seventh at 11:30, while the 4x400 team of Criscuolo, Mattson, Sarmento, and Jordyn Franco finished sixth at 4:45.10.