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01/08/2022 11:00 PMBoys’ Basketball
The Branford boys’ basketball team boosted its record to 3-1 on the year after picking up a pair of recent victories. The Hornets defeated both East Haven and Career by double digits in their last two matchups.
On Jan. 4, Branford hosted East Haven and defeated the Yellowjackets by the final score of 58-41. Branford held an 8-6 lead after one and was up 23-19 through two. The Hornets outscored East Haven 20-17 in the third quarter and 15-5 in the fourth to pull away for the win.
Sophomore Jake Palluzzi scored 21 points to lift Branford to its win against East Haven. Senior David McDonald netted 18 points to go with 10 rebounds and two steals for the Hornets. Junior Zach Turbert scored six points, grabbed five boards, and also had a pair of steals in the victory. Senior Dylan Sachs and sophomore Nate Florio added five points apiece on the night.
Then on Jan. 6, Branford traveled to New Haven to play a game against Career. The Hornets won the contest by the final tally of 69-42 to put their third win of the year in the books.
Palluzzi had another big game for Branford by netting 29 points in the victory. McDonald and Turbert both scored 14 points for the Hornets. Florio chipped in with six points to help Branford win the game.
Previously, on Dec. 28, Branford had taken a 60-46 road loss versus Lyman Hall.
Girls’ Basketball
The Branford girls’ basketball squad has a record of 1-3 thus far this season. After splitting their first two games, the Hornets took a 57-40 road loss against East Haven on Dec. 20. Branford returned to the court to host North Haven on Jan. 7 and lost the contest by a 58-31 score.
Freshman Shelby Burnham scored 17 points for the Hornets in the game against North Haven. Sophomore Lyra Clifford had 14 points in the game.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
The Branford boys’ ice hockey team is sporting a record of 2-3 in the winter season. In their most- recent contests, the Hornets split a pair of games with Lyman Hall to go with a victory versus Amity. All three games took place at Northford Ice Pavilion.
After losing its first two games of the campaign, Branford got in the win column with a 5-4 victory over Lyman Hall. The Hornets faced Lyman Hall again the following week and took a 6-3 loss in the contest. Then on Jan. 6, Branford squared off with Amity and blanked the Spartans by a 4-0 score.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Hand co-op girls’ ice hockey team has a record of 0-5 for the winter season. On Dec. 29, Hand, which also features athletes from Haddam-Killingworth, Branford, Valley Regional, Coginchaug, and Old Lyme, took a 2-0 road loss against West Haven-SHA at Bennett Rink on Dec. 29. The co-op squad was slated to face Amity-Cheshire-North Haven on Jan. 5, but the game was postponed. On Jan. 8, the team took a 5-2 road loss to Conard-Hall at Veterans Memorial Ice Rink.
Wrestling
The Branford wrestling team earned a big win versus Hand on the road on Dec. 30. The Hornets traveled to Madison to face the Tigers and prevailed by the score of 55-10 at Daniel Hand High School.
Senior Aidan Shamas claimed a 12-4 win by decision in the 113-pound division for Branford. Junior Carter Burgess notched an 8-3 victory via decision in the 132-pound bout. Senior Jace Korab pinned his opponent at the 4:28 mark of the 138-pound bout. Senior Josh Berdon prevailed by pin at 1:19 of the 145-pound duel.
Senior Patrick Zdunek won by pin at the 1:11 mark in the 170-pound bout. Senior Nate Mathis pinned his opponent in 3:51 at 195 pounds. Senior William Pera needed just 43 seconds to pin his opponent in the 285-pound bout.
On Jan. 5, Branford hosted Xavier and took a 35-0 defeat versus the Falcons.
Girls’ Indoor Track
The Branford girls’ indoor track team participated in a pair of SCC Developmental meets at Floyd Little Athletic Center during the past couple of weeks.
Branford competed in the first SCC Developmental on Dec. 20. Sophomore Tess Wasiolek finished in first place for the 1,000 (3:22.57) to lead the Hornets at the meet. Senior Julia Duffy finished fourth (1:48.26) in the 600, while senior Katie Laska (1:56.87) and senior Bella Finta (1:57.01) also ran solid times in the event.
Sophomore Joelle Budz claimed sixth place in the 55-meter dash (7.75) for Branford. Sophomore Chayse Gueco (8.13) and sophomore Raiyn Fries (8.68) also turned in some good times for the 55.
Branford’s 4x200 relay of Gueco, Laska, Duffy, and Budz finished in fourth place (1:55.92). The 4x800 relay of Finta, Katie Harmon, freshman Glorianna Buckley, and Wasiolek posted a time of 11:31.
The Hornets were back at Floyd Little Athletic Center to take part in the next SCC Developmental on Jan. 3. Branford’s 1,600 sprint medley relay team of Budz, Laska, Duffy, and Wasiolek took first place by recording a time of 4:30.95. The 4x400 relay featuring Laska, freshman Ella Stone, Duffy, and Wasiolek came in third place (4:38.11).
Budz finished second in the 55 (7.74) and took fourth place in the 300 (45.47). Laska finished in 10th place (46.40) in the 400 with Duffy (47.04) and Fries (48.52) also competing in the event.
Junior Hannah Jackson (12.22) and senior Hilla Seunarine (12.61) competed in the 55-meter hurdles for the Hornets. Junior Taylor Tracy participated in the shot put (21-1).
Boys’ Indoor Track
The Branford boys’ indoor track was represented by several athletes when a SCC Developmental meet took place at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Jan. 4.
Sophomore Enaji Muhammad finished third in the high jump (5-6) for the Hornets. Junior Evan Bouley took sixth place in the pole vault (9-0) at the meet. Bouley had previously finished fifth in the pole vault with that same height at an earlier SCC Development meet that took place on Dec. 22.