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02/18/2017 11:00 PMGirls’ Basketball
The North Branford girls’ basketball squad lost its last two matchups of the regular season, after which the T-Birds won a Shoreline Conference Tournament qualifying round game to advance to the quarterfinals, where they lost to East Hampton. Next up for North Branford is the Class M State Tournament.
North Branford lost to Coginchaug 55-50 on Feb. 14 and took 51-38 defeat to Valley Regional two days later to close the regular season at 9-11. Against Coginchaug, Kelly Oliver scored 22 points, while Morgan Violette and Jess Kilburn both netted 11.
The two losses put North Branford into a Shoreline Conference Tournament qualifying contest against Portland, which the Thunderbirds defeated 54-35 on Feb. 16. Violette led the way with a triple-double as she finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 steals. Danielle Ramada scored a game-high 14 points, Angelina Ramanda scored 11, and Marie Zampano dropped 10 to push the T-Birds to victory.
On Feb. 18, No, 8 seed North Branford played at top-seeded East Hampton in the quarterfinal round of the Shoreline Conference Tournament and was defeated 58-31. East Hampton controlled the game throughout, limiting the T-Birds to less than 10 points scored in each of the first three quarters. Kilburn finished with 15 points for North Branford, which is 10-12 overall.
Boys’ Basketball
North Branford split two duels on the road last week to move its record to 10-8 with two regular season games to go as it continues to fight for a spot in the Shoreline Conference Tournament.
The week started with a 34-27 loss at Coginchaug on Feb. 14 in which Brett Lequire scored 12 points.
The T-Birds rebounded with a 52-31 victory over Valley Regional on Feb. 17. Jake Haeckel led the way with 23 points, plus Lequire netted 17. North Branford’s defense played great and held Valley to single digits in the first half.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
The T-Birds went 1-1 last week by beating Amity and losing to New Milford for a mark of 9-9.
On Feb. 15, North Branford defeated Amity 6-3 in the second annual Amity Hockey Coaches vs. Cancer benefit game at Bennett Rink in West Haven. North Branford scored four goals in the third period to pull off the victory. Nico Giatrelis netted four goals in the win, while Sean McKee and Scott Clinton also scored for the T-Birds. Brian McKee had three assists, Sean McKee and Marc Daddio each had two, and Giatrelis finished with one. John Lovelace made 37 saves in goal.
On Feb. 17, New Milford defeated the T-Birds 4-3. Brian McKee recorded a hat trick and Giatrelis had a pair of assists.
Boys’ Indoor Track
North Branford sent two individuals and a relay to the Class S State Championship at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb. 14.
Jacob Marshall competed in the 55-meter dash and placed 18th with a season-best time of 6.97 seconds. Michael Madoule’s time of 1:33.97 was good for 16th place in the 600-meter run. The 4x200 relay of Aaron Beisaw, Austin Gibilisco, Madoule, and Marshall finished 26th with a time of 1:45.51.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The Thunderbirds had four individuals and one relay compete at last week’s Class S State Championship meet.
Grace Little and Jenna Bryden both raced in the 55- and 300-meter dashes. Little took ninth in the 55 in 7.63 seconds and 19th in the 300 at 45.58. Bryden placed 22nd in both events with a time of 7.91 in the 55 and a 45.85 for the 300. Winnie Chan also competed in a pair of events, finishing 11th in the high jump at 4 feet-8 inches and 21st in the long jump with a leap of 14-5.75. Emily Muzyka’s toss of 27-9.5 in the shot put was good 21st. The 4x200 relay of Bryden, Sarah Criscuolo, Little, and Lydia Mattson finished 12th with a time of 1:56.61.