Printer Friendly Version - T-Birds’ Boys’ Hoops Loses in Shorelines; Boys’ Hockey Goes 10-10 for Regular Season

Brett Lequire dazzled the crowd with 33 points against East Hampton, but the T-Birds came up just shy of advancing past the quarterfinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament by taking a 53-48 defeat against East Hampton. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

The Thunderbirds’ boys’ basketball team split its last two games of the regular season to go 11-9 and earn the No. 6 seed in the Shoreline Conference Tournament. North Branford took a 53-48 loss to East Hampton in the quarterfinals of Shorelines and now gets ready to play in the Class S State Tournament.

In its final regular season games leading up to the conference tourney, North Branford lost to Haddam-Killingworth 54-47 on Feb. 21 before topping Morgan 56-44 on Feb. 23. Against H-K, North Branford benefited from a balanced attack with three players finishing the night in double figures. Brett Lequire led the way with 13 points, while Gianni Lavorgna scored 11, and Dillon Blake added 10. Jake Haeckel wasn’t far behind as he closed out the night with nine points.

The win over Morgan secured North Branford’s place in the Conference Tournament, where North Branford played at No. 3 East Hampton in the quarterfinal round on Feb. 25. It was an even game throughout, but East Hampton came away with a 53-48 victory, putting the T-Birds’ record at 11-10 as they enter states. Lequire netted 33 of North Branford’s 48 points as he connected on 15 baskets from the floor.

North Branford is the No. 31 seed in the Class M State Tournament and plays at No. 2 Career in a first round contest in New Haven at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28. If the T-Birds win, they’ll play at the winner of No. 15 Kaynor Tech and No. 18 Rocky Hill in the second round at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 3.

North Branford went 1-1 in the final week of regular season to finish with a 10-10 record. The Thunderbirds are playing in the Division II State Tournament that gets underway next week.

On Feb. 20, the T-Birds were on the road against Staples-Weston-Shelton and came away with a 6-4 victory. Nico Giatrelis recorded a hat trick in the win, while Sean McKee, Jack Curran, and Scott Clinton also scored goals. Brian McKee ended the game with a team-high three assists, plus Jacob Neubig and Connor Odell had one each. John Lovelace stood tall in net by making 32 saves.

In their regular season finale, the Thunderbirds took a 5-4 loss at home against E.O.Smith on Feb. 25. Giatrelis and Brian McKee had a pair of goals each, Nick Mancini finished with two assists, and Brian McKee added one. Lovelace made 35 saves as E.O Smith outshot the T-Birds 40-17.

This game marked the Thunderbirds' Senior Night and the team's 11 seniors were honored prior to the game. North Branford's senior class is comprised of Tyler Odice, Christian DeFrancesco, Pasquale D'Angelo, Lev Torgerson, Jack Curran, Conner Odell, Scott Clinton, Marc Daddio, Nick Giatrelis, Jeff Dryzgula, and Brian McKee.