(Rocky Hill seniors (left to right) Kiana Lebron, Sammy Steinman, Grace Fisher, Lizzy Denardo, and Grace Moore celebrated Senion Night with a 47-42 win over Newington)

Boys Basketball
Cromwell stormed back from a double-digit deficit to defeat Valley Regional 59-51 last Tuesday. Noah Budzik shot 12 of 16 from the free thrown line, scoring 16 points, and Nick Wright knocked down three trifectas, adding 13 points and nine rebounds. The Panthers then took down Haddam-Killingworth 76-25 on Friday for their 10th win in a row, improving the team to 16-3. Senior Brendan Stafstrom scored a season-high 14 points, adding three rebounds and three assists, in the convincing road victory.

Wethersfield defeated Newington 68-57 last Tuesday night, behind 21 points from Mike Mozzicato. The Eagles then upended Bristol Central 65-59 for their 16th win of the season, assuring the team one of the top seeds in the Division II state tournament, which starts in early March.

Senior night was a celebratory night for many reasons in Rocky Hill. The Terriers honored their nine seniors and then defeated Maloney 55-47, earning a spot in the state tournament. Seniors Ryan Robinson (15 points), Andrew DiMatteo (12), Will White (11), and Sean Walsh (9) all delivered when it counted most in their final game at RHHS.    

Girls Basketball
Rocky Hill celebrated Senior Night with a 47-42 victory over Newington last Monday night. Nikki Lukens and Grace Fisher each had 17 points in the victory, which was their second over the Indians this season. The Terriers finished the regular season 16-4 and then edged Wethersfield 50-48 in the opening round of the CCC finals, behind 20 more points from Lukens. 

Despite the conference tourney loss, Wethersfield are in great shape heading into the Class L state tournament. The Eagles finished the regular season with a record of 14-6, including wins in five of their final seven games.

Cromwell also was victorious on Senior Night, breezing by Haddam-Killingworth 60-19 to end the regular season 17-3. Senior Jenna Serrantino led the Panthers with 19 points and fellow senior Kelsea Corcoran drained a pair of three-pointers, finishing with 10 points. Coincidentally the Panthers played H-K again in the quarterfinal of the Shoreline Conference tourney on Saturday and the results were the same. Serrantino again led the Panthers with 21 points in a 62-39 victory.  

Middletown finished 12-8, winning their regular-season finale 51-35 over Berlin on Senior Night. Mackenzie Dunn poured in 20 points and Silvana Barcomb added 12 more in the victory over the Redcoats.

Ice Hockey    
Senior night was extra special for the Wethersfield-Middletown-Rocky Hill-Plainville co-op team, who shutout Shepaug 6-0 on Feb 10. Six different Eagles scored in the win, including freshman Chase Millen who tallied a goal and two assists. Sophomore Patrick Creel was in net, sending back all five shots he faced. Entering the final week of the regular season, the Eagles are 10-6-1 and in great shape for another tourney run this March.

Newington co-op is currently on a five-game winning streak entering the final week of the regular season. The Indians had a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over Hall-Southington last Wednesday. Sophomore Nicholas Deriu scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the extra session, and senior Adam Belair stopped 40 shots in the win. The team closed last week with a 4-1 victory over the co-op team from Bolton-Coventry-Rockville on Saturday. Newington trailed 1-0 after the first period, but two goals apiece from Matt Lavoie and Cade Palladino and three assists from Ethan Ranger helped improve the team to 11-5.    

Indoor Track
Rocky Hill girls finished 2nd overall at the Class M finals at the Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb 9. Sophomore sensation Elizabeth Stockman won the 1600 and 3200 meter, crushing the competition in each event. The Terriers relay team of Maren Valente, Talia Carlone, Anne White, and Lilah Devine took home second place in the 4x800, while Victoria Bower placed third in the 300 meter and combined with White, Devine, and Lordina Orleans-Onyina for fifth place in the 4x400. Stockman capped off her amazing winter season, proving to be the state’s best distant runner by winning the 3200 at the State Open last Saturday.

Cromwell girls finished 6th in the Class S finals thanks to Andraya Yearwood, who won the 55 meter and finished as the runner-up in the 300 meter. Shannon Morrill had a fourth-place effort in the 600 meter.

On the boys’ side, Wethersfield senior George Stoughton won the high jump and long jump at the Class L finals at the Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb 8. Stoughton’s efforts helped the Eagles finish 10th overall at the event.

At the same event, Middletown’s Garrett Dandridge won the 55 meters, edging Hartford Public’s Leon Campbell. The Blue Dragon’s finished 16th overall.

Swimming & Diving
Just like the girls’ team did in the fall, Wethersfield boys swimming and diving wrapped up a perfect regular season, easily defeating E.O. Smith last Tuesday night to improve to 10-0. Blake Fulton and Shane Bresnahan each won two separate events and Hadden Gaunt, Brian Puglielli, and Ryan McOmber finished 1-2-3 in the diving portion to essentially wrap up the perfect regular season and reclaim the conference title in Wethersfield. Next up are the conference, state and open finals, which start in early March.

Basketball Fan Fest Invades Rocky Hill
Do you have a stroke like Mark Price or the handles of Rafer Alston? If so, you’re in luck because the basketball programs at Rocky Hill are hosting the 4th annual Fan Festival this Friday night, Feb 23 at Rocky Hill High School.

The festivities tipoff at 5:30 p.m. and the night will feature fun for the whole family, food, and plenty of basketball activities.

Basketball events include knockout, hot shot, a skills challenge, and a 3-point shootout. It’s also your chance to meet and greet the starting lineups for both the boys and girls teams. The ten Terriers featured will be: Ryan Robinson, Will White, Jordan DelMastro, Riley Donovan, Andrew DiMatteo, Nikki Lukens, Aleska Peterson, Lizzy Denardo, Grace Fisher, and Sammy Steinman.      

The event is sponsored by the basketball booster programs at Rocky Hill, cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and FREE for kids age 10 & under. Admission and/or donations can be paid at the door or through PayPal at [email protected]

(Wethersfield's Derek Tenney drives on Rocky Hill's Sean Walsh)
​
Wethersfield boys’ basketball started 2018 with a loss at Ledyard on Jan 2.

Since that defeat the team has been flawless in a dozen tries.

The Eagles made it twelve straight wins last Thursday night, defeating Rocky Hill 52-35 in front of a packed house at RHHS.

“They’ve been a motivated, unselfish group of kids,” said Wethersfield head coach Brian Fanelli, “There have been times when we’ve made some mistakes, but they set goals and they’ve really work hard to accomplish those goals.”
Mike Mozzicato has been a consistent force the entire season and led all scorers with 21 points, including 10 over the final eight minutes.

“I think it just came together this year. We had a lot of seniors that were returning and we’ve been working hard every day,” Mozzicato said of the winning streak, “We’re sticking together and I think it starts in practice with the leadership.”
Mozzicato and his mates took a while to get warmed up this season and again on Thursday night, falling behind early before a 10-point scoring run and a stifling defense helped provide a 10-4 advantage after the first quarter. 

The size and length of Wethersfield’s frontline slowly wore down the scrappy Terriers and the road team led by as many as 20 early in the fourth quarter.

Mozzicato, Jimmy Sullivan, Connor Pace, and Matthew Amoddio give the team plenty of size up front, all standing over 6’2” and all possessing the ability to play inside and out.

“It’s a good problem to have. I’m trying to get them all minutes so they stay fresh and they stay motivated,” Fanelli said of his imposing frontline, “We usually don’t have too much height or size so it’s a luxury for once.”

“I think it scares some teams,” added Mozzicato, “We also have two guards that can score and they’re very good offensive players. They provide a lot of the leadership.”

Mozzicato and Sullivan are two of a half dozen seniors and the duo has developed a special connection, showcasing chemistry on the court from their years of playing together.

“I’ve seen them grow since 7th grade when I had them as middle school students and I watched them develop not only as good basketball players but as really good teammates and good guys to be around. It’s been fun to watch them develop,” Fanelli said of the pair, “Mike has developed through basketball because he’s going to do that next year and Jimmy is going to Virginia on a baseball scholarship so his athleticism compliments Mike’s basketball skills very well.”

Sullivan finished with nine points, while point guard Nicholas Arcata poured in eight and Pace added six.  

Amoddio came off the bench to score four, including an athletic tip-in from the right baseline following a Mozzicato miss midway through the third quarter. 

“Jimmy is very easy to play with and he can score it just as good as anyone. We have a lot of guys that can score the ball and anyone can score on any given night,” stated Mozzicato, who leads the team in scoring and tied a school-record with 42 points against Windsor in the season-opener.

Mozzicato has assumed a bulk of the scoring load but moving the ball on each and every possession is a given in Wethersfield.

Thursday night seven Eagles broke into the scoring column and, regardless of who has the hot hand, ball movement is a non-negotiable for Fanelli.

“It doesn’t matter because at some point one of those guys is going to be off and it’s up to them to know they aren’t shooting well and they’ve got to do other things like take care of the ball, play defense, and get rebounds. If all the guys share it you never know who is going to score that night and they’re all going to be excited to get it.”

It was the second time that Fanelli and his Eagles beat Rocky Hill this season, also winning 58-41 at WHS for their second win during the current streak.

Thursday’s loss was Rocky Hill’s fifth straight, dropping the home team to 7-10.  

Andrew DiMatteo led the Terriers with a dozen points, including five in the final quarter to help narrow the gap to 11 with three minutes to play in regulation, but a layup and a pair of free throws from Mozzicato sealed the deal.

Riley Donovan added eight points, while Will White and Jordan DelMastro scored four points apiece in defeat.

With the tournament around the corner the Terriers have a pair of pivotal games to close the regular season. First they welcome Maloney to town on Fri, Feb 16 for a 6:45 tip and then finish up the regular season at Newington on Tue, Feb 20 at 6:45.

For Wethersfield, the win over the Terriers marked the sixth time in eight games that their defense allowed fewer than 36 points, but there are defensive areas that Fanelli still wants to see improvement.    

“On our screen and rolls we have to do a better job at guarding the roller. In the beginning of the game they slipped it a few time and got an easy bucket and we ended up with a foul. We got to make sure that we’re shoring that up and we’re working hard trying to do it. It’s just about getting the kids to do the tough stuff.”

“We’re just rolling right now and everything is going good but defensive wise we can always do better on that side,” added Mozzicato, “Also we could do better handling pressure, we were up 20 and then it started to slip away in the fourth quarter so we have to get better with that. It happened against Southington too but we’ll get it fixed by tournament time.”

It was almost a baker’s dozen for the Eagles but they had their winning streak snapped on Saturday, falling on the road to Glastonbury 67-56. Despite the loss they are still in great shape at 14-3 and are currently tied for the second best record in Division II.   

​The tourney-bound team will close the regular season with a back-to-back home dates, starting with Bristol Central on Thurs, Feb 15 at 6:45 and ending with New Britain on Tue, Feb 20 at 6:45. 

(Nikki Lukens and Aleksa Peterson combined to score 25 points in a win over Hartford Public)

Rocky Hill girls’ basketball scored at will and their defense harassed visiting Hartford Public early and often during the Terriers 65-22 victory at RHHS last Tuesday night.

The victory was the team’s fourth straight and although the result was expected, it wasn’t the final score that matter.

Head coach Allyson Smith-Toulouse has peached playing for an entire 32 minutes and the convincing victory was another step towards their ultimate goal---a potential title run in Class M state tournament.

“This time of the year you have to do whatever it takes to win and stay focused,” said the fifth-year coach, “This stretch is more about the little things.  The approach is executing on offense and having a good game plan on defense because it’s more important to be disciplined in those sets and get the looks that we may overlook in a closer game.”

Constant ball movement and a relentless defensive press allowed the home team to jump out to an early 16-2 advantage before coasting to a comfortable 39-8 lead at the half.

Junior guard Nikki Lukens continued to excel on the offensive end with a game-high 16 points, but it’s been her work the on the defensive end that has stood out this winter.

“She’s always been a tenacious defender because she’s so long and she anticipates really well. She’s a very efficient defender and for a kid her size and how much she plays, she doesn’t foul much either. Her size plays to her advantage because more often than not whoever she is guarding is probably outmatched,” Smith-Toulouse said of Lukens, who is the team’s leading scorer, “She’s been getting tougher in the paint and finishing stronger. I think she’s becoming a more well-rounded player and she still has the finesse side but she’s definitely more impactful with the physicality on the defensive end.”

Lukens role as a leader has also increased, teaming with a strong group of seniors and giving the Terriers plenty of experience.

Grace Fisher, Lizzy Denardo, and Samantha Steinman have embraced the senior captain roles, each bringing a different dynamic on the court.        
“Grace is a leader by doing and she’s a great kid and Sammy is such a great leader vocally and she knows the system,” said their proud coach, “Lizzy has been great with Nikki and helped develop her because she’s more of the floor captain on any given night.”

The trio, along with Lukens and fellow senior Grace Moore, has a noticeable chemistry on the court.

“A game like this prepares us for games coming up. It basically comes down to working as a team and building up the chemistry that we need in order to win all these games,” said Steinman.

Whether it’s helping out defensively or moving without the ball, the players are working as one.

“I like to look for the most high-percentage shots, so either I’m taking it in or if I see Grace Fisher or Grace Moore down low or if it’s someone outside or back cutting. I always look for the better opportunity for us to score,” said Denardo, who scored five or her seven points in the opening quarter.

Denardo wasted little time on Tuesday night, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc less than 15 seconds into the game after Lukens snared an offensive rebound and kicked it out to her for the uncontested three.

Fisher also made her presence felt early, scoring four of her eight points in the opening quarter and delivered several crisp passes to cutters from the top of the key.

“I’ve worked on being stronger with the ball and passing,” said Fisher, who earned all-conference as a junior, “We talk about looking for who is open and we’re always looking for the back doors.”

Leading 53-8 midway through the third, Smith-Toulouse started to clear her bench, allowing the next generation of Terriers a chance to finish the game.

Starting sophomore Aleksa Peterson finished with nine points and freshman Peggy Minga shined in the third and fourth quarter, adding six points.

All told, 11 Terriers broke into the scoring column on Tuesday night.

“Every game that is a sustainable lead our seniors will usually come out and I’ll play Aleksa and or Nikki with some of the younger group to start building for the future,” stated Smith-Toulouse, “I’m always thinking program building for next year.  These seniors are amazing leaders and they have a lot of pride and I think it’s fun for them to sit and watch what they’ve helped develop for the future. We have 17 kids and those juniors and seniors treat the young kids amazing.”

The veteran players have embraced their roles, setting an example for their successors.

“It’s important for them to get minutes, because it’s important for them to practice for the upcoming years when we’re not here anymore,” said Fisher.

“We’re constantly talking to the girls and keeping it positive on the court no matter if they’re having a good game or a bad game,” added Steinman, “If we’re all in it together, we’re going to win together.”

Offensively the team has been efficient but defense is still the name of the game in Rocky Hill. The 22 points allowed against Hartford Public was the second fewest the team has allowed all season and it was their third straight contest holding an opponent under 27 points.

Last Friday the team had another signature moment, rallying from 13 down to defeat Windsor 36-32 on the road. A 22-3 run secured the team’s fifth win in a row, improving their record to 13-3 as the week closed.

In the come-from-behind win, Fisher scored 14 and grabbed nine rebounds and Lukens added 14 points and seven boards.  

The Terriers will close the regular season with a pair of conference home games, starting this Friday (Feb 9) against Wethersfield and finishing up Monday (Feb 12) against Newington.   

The home finales will be the appetizers for the tournaments, which are only a few weeks away.

Smith-Toulouse and her girls advanced to the second round of the Class M tourney last winter but this year’s group has experience and confidence on their side.

“It’s fun because now they are molded into the program and they have also helped build that too. I am proud and I feel like I can trust the process and trust in my seniors that we’ll get the right play and they’ll come up big in huge moments. We’ve had several huge moments this year and that’s a testament to their leadership and discipline as veterans. We just have to stay focused on the things that we can control.”   

Wethersfield swimming and diving remained undefeated, improving to 5-0 with a convincing victory over Rocky Hill last Tuesday night.

The Eagles started the meet with a bang, placing first and second in the 200 Medley Relay. The foursome of Blake Fulton, Caleb Skowronek, Holden Hoon, and Jack Blaisdell won the event and Rory Stickley, Matthew Iallonardo, Shane Bresnahan, and Brendon Mansaku took second.

In the next event, Austin Bovino won the 200 Freestyle with teammate Patrick McGuane finishing second.
Hoon then won the 200 Individual Medley, beating Rocky Hill’s Brian Speers by nearly three seconds.

Fulton and Blaisdell then finished 1-2 in the 50 Freestyle, providing the Eagles a comfortable lead heading into the diving portion of the evening.

Eagles divers continued to soar, as Hadden Gaunt, Jordan Griffin, and Brian Puglielli finished 1-2-3.

Despite the loss Rocky Hill has had a solid season, winning four of six meets prior to Tuesday night.

The Terriers are in the middle of a long home stand, with Windsor coming to town Fri, Feb 2 for a 4 p.m. meet.

​The Eagles welcome the Middletown Blue Dragons to WHS that same night for a 5 pm meet.