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03/26/2022 12:00 AMWhen Chris Perras took over as interim head coach of the Old Saybrook boys’ basketball team during the 2020 season, the Rams were in the middle of a down year. Old Saybrook wound up finishing with a record of 2-18 that season, but Perras had a vision for the program that was realized in the 2022 campaign, when the Rams took a step big forward by winning 15 games on their way to qualifying for both Shorelines and states.
Old Saybrook finished with an overall record of 15-8 this winter. Following the regular season, the Rams made good on their berth in states by earning a victory in the first round of the Division V State Tournament.
“It’s a special feeling to see your vision as a head coach be bought in by the staff and the players in the program and then see it come to fruition,” Coach Perras said. “When I officially became head coach, we had just completed a 2-18 season. So, since then, it’s been a lot of trying to get the program back on track to where we felt we could be. This year is that first year where the vision became a reality and, now that we’ve done it, we need to continue having that success.”
The Rams started the 2022 season by winning five of their first six games, notching victories against Hale-Ray, Westbrook, Portland, North Branford, and Valley Regional. Old Saybrook completed its regular season with a record of 14-6 and qualified for the Shoreline Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed. Despite having defeated Portland twice during the regular season, the Rams lost their first-round contest to the Highlanders in the Shorelines by a 49-41 score at home.
Old Saybrook then entered the Division V State Tournament as the No. 7 seed and claimed a 48-39 home win over No. 26 seed East Granby in the first round of the draw. The Rams went on to take an 81-52 defeat versus Achievement First in a second-round matchup.
As a whole, Coach Perras felt that the recent season went well for his burgeoning program. Perras wants to the Rams keep working hard in order to continue their ascent up the ranks in 2023.
“You’re never completely satisfied until you win the last game of the season. However, I feel like we turned a corner for the program and have our sights set on bigger things,” said Perras. “I’m happy with what we were able to accomplish this season and how the team bought in to one another and the coaching staff, as well. Though, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to put us in a better position to find further success next season.”
Old Saybrook was led by senior captain Riley Lawson, along with junior captains Ryan Stratton and Aaron Tolve this year. Stratton, a point guard, averaged 16.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game on his way to garnering All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors for the Rams. Tolve, who played small forward, made the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team after averaging a stat line of 17.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. Lawson, a guard, received All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention on behalf of Coach Perras’s squad.
“We’re on the right track. We need to fine-tune some things and continue to progress throughout the offseason to put ourselves in position to be successful going forward. It’s now a matter of taking that step forward to becoming a stronger team and raising the bar next season and after that,” Perras said. “I’m beyond thrilled to have Ryan and Aaron for one more year. They’re both a coach’s dream. Obviously, they’re extremely talented and excellent players, but we see eye to eye with everything.”
With the trio of captains leading the way, Coach Perras credited every one of the 12 other players on his varsity roster for contributing to the Rams’ successful season. Old Saybrook’s senior class also features Jake Butler, Camilo Bracho, and Noah Grace. The Rams’ junior class includes Ajdin Cecunjanin, Josh Lech, and Bradley Kulmann. The sophomores on the team are Brayden Cody, Wesley Nobile, Auggie Albert, Aiden D’Anna, and Drew Kulmann. Freshman Wes Percival is also a member of the team.
“All 12 guys played a role in our success this year. We added three more to the roster once the postseason started, and they played a role, too,” said Perras. “Everyone’s role looked different, but those guys embraced it. They believed in something bigger than themselves, and that’s why we were able to make such a big leap forward this year.”
As for next season, Coach Perras is eager to build off the foundation that Old Saybrook established in 2022. Perras believes the Rams gained valuable experience throughout their playoff run and that all of his athletes are ready to continue putting in the work during the offseason in order to come back even stronger next year.
“I’m just excited to see the result of everyone’s hunger pay off,” Perras said. “We’re hurt from the way our season ended. We graduated four seniors, and we return 6 of our top 8, 11 of 15, so those guys watched Achievement First celebrate making it to the state quarterfinals on our home court, and already there’s a sense of urgency that guys are already working hard for next season. And that’s what I’m excited about. I’m looking forward to seeing our growth once next season comes around.”