Printer Friendly Version - North Branford Girls’ Hoops Gets Fifth Win; Lequire Scores 40 in East Hampton Holiday Tourney

Danielle Ramada and the North Branford girls’ basketball team have won five of their first six contests this season. Ramada poured in double-digit points in both of the team’s recent victories. Photo by Susan Lambert/The Sound

The Thunderbirds’ girls’ basketball squad continued its stellar start to the 2017-’18 winter season by claiming two more victories to improve to 5-1 for the year. North Branford defeated Shoreline Conference opponents Morgan and Old Lyme in the team’s last two matchups.

On Dec. 29, North Branford notched a 45-36 win over Morgan on the road behind an 18-point performance from Danielle Ramada. Morgan Violette added 14 points in the victory.

Then on Jan. 3, the T-Birds earned a narrow 46-43 victory over Old Lyme at home. Jessie Kilburn led the way with 15 points and eight rebounds for North Branford. Danielle Ramada scored 10 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and added two blocks. Violetette scored eight points, and Marie Zampano added seven points in the victory.

North Branford competed in four recent games, including the East Hampton Holiday Tournament, and moved to 4-3 by splitting the four contests.

The tournament in East Hampton took place from Dec. 28 through Dec. 30, and North Branford came away with a win and a loss. On Dec. 28, the T-Birds topped Rockville 61-54 as Brett Lequire had a huge game by scoring 40 points.

In the championship game, East Hampton topped North Branford 54-48 in a tight contest. The Thunderbirds were playing from behind throughout the game as East Hampton took a 21-2 lead after the first quarter, although North Branford clawed back to make it a close one. Lequire scored 19 points, and Jake Haeckel netted 18 points for the T-Birds.

Following the tournament, North Branford lost to Old Lyme 59-48 on its home floor on Jan. 2. Lequire led all scorers with 25 points, plus Haeckel added 16.

The T-Birds closed out their recent stretch by grabbing a 47-31 home win over Morgan on Jan. 6. Lequire scored 18 points, Haeckel scored 10, and Sydney Fanklin added seven points for North Branford in the victory.

North Branford split its two road contests last week to improve to 3-2 for the season.

On Dec. 30, the Thunderbirds were shut out by a 2-0 score at Watertown-Pomperaug. However, North Branford rebounded with a 5-1 victory at Newtown on Jan. 6. After allowing the opening goal of the game, North Branford scored three in the final five minutes of the second period to cruise to the victory. Junior Sean McKee led the charge with a hat trick, including a short-handed tally. Jacob Neubig and Brendan Stoner also scored for North Branford, while Jacob Montanaro made 19 saves in net to earn the victory.

Brett Lequire put on a clinic when North Branford topped Rockville in its first game of the East Hampton Holiday Tournament. Lequire’s 40 points were the most that any player scored in the tourney. Photo by Susan Lambert/The Sound