Winter Sports Happenings

(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]

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Wethersfield field hockey players (left to right) Amanda Gilbert, Megan Tonucci, Rachel Bugella, Maya Mulholland, Caroline Kennedy, Gabi Interian, and Emma Zaleski were all awarded and selected to the 2017 Keith Waldman - Optimal Performance: All Academic Squad from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association