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03/01/2020 11:00 PMBoys’ Ice Hockey
The Branford boys’ ice hockey team won its second-straight SCC/SWC Division II title by posting a pair of divisional victories during the final week of the regular season. The Hornets earned a 2-1 win versus the East Haven co-op and then prevailed by a 4-3 score against Hand to finish at 17-2-1 overall with a record of 9-0 in the division standings, clinching the title with the Hand victory. Branford also earned the top seed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament and the Division II State Tournament by defeating the Tigers.
The Hornets started off their week by hosting East Haven at Northford Ice Pavilion on Feb. 26. Branford struck first when freshman Matt Morgan scored from seniors Zach Jones and Blake Kustra for a 1-0 lead 5:32 into the game. The Yellowjackets came back with a goal seven minutes later to make it 1-1 through one.
The Hornets took the lead for good when junior Dan Farricelli scored an unassisted goal 5:39 into the second period. Branford kept East Haven off the board the rest of the way to come away with the 2-1 victory.
Junior goalie Jared Yakimoff made 14 saves for the Hornets, who outshot the Yellowjackets by a 40-15 margin.
Then on Feb. 29, Branford and Hand squared off at Northford Ice Pavilion with the SCC/SWC Division II title on the line. With the game tied 3-3, senior Jack Manware scored a goal with just 3.8 seconds remaining to lift the Hornets to a 4-3 victory.
Manware had two goals with an assist, fellow senior Spencer Engstrom scored two goals to go with two assists, Farricelli handed out an assist, and senior Chris Donadio also had an assist.
Yakimoff played an outstanding game in net for Branford by making 47 saves in the victory.
The defending champion Hornets are the No. 1 seed in the SCC/SWC Division II Tournament. Branford is playing the No. 4 seed, the East Haven co-op, in the semifinals at Bennett Rink on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. With a victory, the Hornets will face the winner of No. 2 Hand and No. 3 North Haven in the championship game at Bennett Rink on Saturday, March 7 at 4 p.m.
Following the conference tourney, Branford begin its state title defense when the Hornets compete in the Division II State Tournament starting with first-round action on Monday, March 9.
Wrestling
Branford was represented by six wrestlers when the State Open Championship took place last weekend. The Hornets scored 39 points to finish in 20th place at the Open, which was held at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb. 28 and 29.
Senior Cody McHenry turned in Branford’s top performance by taking fourth place in the 195-pound weight class at the State Open. McHenry won his first three matches on pinfalls to advance to the semifinals round, where he lost via a technical decision after falling behind 17-2 on points.
McHenry won a 2-1 decision in the consolation semis before losing a 10-1 majority decision in the third-place bout to finish in fourth place. He advanced to compete at the New England Championship in Methuen, Massachusetts this weekend.
Junior AJ Robinson won two matches via pinfall to advance to the quarterfinals of the 160-pound bracket. Robinson lost a 9-1 majority decision in the quarters and then took a 7-6 loss in his first consolation match.
Senior Minsok Lee lost a 1-0 decision in his first match at 285 pounds. In the consolation rounds, Lee won a 2-0 decision and a 12-1 majority decision before taking a 3-1 defeat.
In the 182-pound division, junior Justin Osler took a 7-1 loss in his opening match and then won a 14-5 decision in his first consolation bout. Osler lost a 5-2 decision in his next match of the bracket. Osler came into the State Open on the heels of winning the 182-pound title at both the SCC Championship and the Class M State Championship.
Sophomore Jace Korab lost a 3-2 decision in his first bout of the 120-pound tournament, but came back with a 6-4 victory in his first consolation match. Korab was edged out by a 2-1 score in his next contest.
At 132 pounds, sophomore Patrick Zdunek lost on a 7-3 decision in his opening match and then took a 2-0 loss in his first consolation bout.
Girls’ Basketball
Branford opens play in the Class MM State Tournament as the No. 26 seed this week. The Hornets, who have an overall record of 17-3, are playing at No. 7 seed Killingly for a first-round game on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. With a win, Branford would face the winner of No. 10 Sacred Heart and No. 23 Waterford in the second round on Friday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. The quarterfinals are on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.; the semifinals take place on Monday, March 16; and the Class MM state final will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena on either Saturday, March 21 or Sunday, March 22.