This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/28/2017 11:00 PMBoys’ Basketball
The North Branford boys’ basketball squad improved to 2-1 after splitting a pair of recent matchups.
On Dec. 18, the Thunderbirds took a 54-40 defeat against Creed, which outscored North Branford 18-4 in the opening frame on its way to the win. Brett Lequire scored a game-high 21 points for the Thunderbirds.
Three days later, North Branford rebounded with a 69-32 blowout over defending Shoreline Conference champion and last year’s Class S finalist Westbrook. Senior Jake Haeckel put on a three-point shooting clinic for North Branford by drilling nine shots from downtown en route to scoring a game-high 32 points. Lequire added 21 points for North Branford in the victory.
Girls’ Basketball
The T-Birds have started their season with a 3-1 record with all three victories coming on their home floor.
On Dec. 19, North Branford topped Creed by a 48-29 score. Morgan Violette poured in a team-high 15 points, while Jessie Kilburn recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Angelina Ramada scored eight points, and Danielle Ramada added seven points to go with her 14 rebounds and six assists.
The very next day, North Branford took its first loss of the year with a 54-42 defeat at Branford. Angelina Ramada and Kilburn scored 16 points apiece, Kilburn also pulled down six rebounds, and Violette contributed eight points in the loss.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
North Branford is 2-1 to open the campaign after playing three tight games with its lone loss coming in overtime.
North Branford started the season on Dec. 20 with a 4-3 overtime victory over Guilford, which won the SCC/SWC Division II and Division II state titles last year. In the victory, freshman Matt Pedersen recorded a hat trick for the T-Birds, who also saw Nick Mancini bury a goal. Brendan Dupuis chipped in with three assists, while goalie John Lovelace made 22 saves to earn the win.
On Dec. 23, South Windsor defeated the Thunderbirds by a 2-1 score in overtime. Pederson scored North Branford’s lone goal in the second period.
Four days later, North Branford bounced back to upend Trumbull 4-2. Sean McKee and Nick Vecchio both scored two goals, Pederson contributed three assists, and Lovelace recorded 20 saves.