Balanceau rallies Stafford
Jan. 25—The Stafford High boys basketball team was finally able to get its points across in the fourth quarter Tuesday.
After being limited to 30 points through three quarters the Bulldogs exploded for 26 over the final 8:00 to rally past visiting East Granby 56-51 in an NCCC game.
Stafford (3-8) trailed by 10 at halftime and by three after three quarters before coming on strong to end a four-game losing streak.
Tom Balanceau led the Bulldogs with 21 points while Collin Gudeman added a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds. Colin Tozier had 10 points and Dylan McLaughlin eight points and nine rebounds.
Kenzie Vick scored 24 points for East Granby (2-10).
Stafford will try for back-to-back wins for the first time this season on Friday when it visits Canton.
ROCKVILLE 72, GRANBY 54. In NCCC action in Vernon, Weston LaBrecque scored 35 points as Rockville made it four straight wins and clinched a berth in the Division IV state tournament.
LaBrecque is averaging 26.8 points during the winning streak for the Rams (8-4). He had 10 points in the first quarter, nine in the second, seven in the third, and nine in the fourth against Granby.
Rockville outscored the Bears 18-9 in the third quarter to stretch a three-point halftime lead to 12. Andrew Carangelo added 15 points for the Rams.
Ryan Frith had 21 points for Granby. The Bears, Division IV finalists a year ago, have lost six straight and at 1-11 must win seven of their last eight games to qualify for the postseason.
Rockville is at East Windsor Friday.
CANTON 54, WINDSOR LOCKS 52. In Windsor Locks, Canton took an 11-point lead to the fourth quarter and held on to hand the host Raiders their first loss in NCCC action.
The Warriors (7-4) have won six in a row since a four-game losing streak. They led 14-6 after one quarter and stretched it to 44-33 going to the fourth. Windsor Locks (9-1) rallied behind Kyle Hinckley and had a shot to tie miss the mark. Two free throws got Canton back up by four and the Raiders scored with a second to go to account for the final margin.
Brandon Powell had 25 points and Matt Benedetti 14 for Canton. Sincere Monroe led Windsor Locks with 15 points. Hinckley had nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. Malike Alassani finished with 10 points.
The Raiders are at Suffield Friday.
SOMERS 60, EAST WINDSOR 32. In Somers, Troy Maia had 19 points as the host Spartans coasted to the NCCC win.
Somers (9-4) led 34-18 at halftime. Jake Yvon added 11 points and Colby McCormick 10 in the win. Juelz Torres had 13 points for East Windsor (1-8).
The Spartans host Tolland tonight. The Panthers entertain Warren Harding Thursday.
WINDSOR 84, MIDDLETOWN 63. In Windsor, Anthony Williams led five players in double figures with 15 points as the host and fifth-ranked Warriors picked up the CCC interdivisional win.
Windsor (12-2) led 47-27 at halftime. Jakeel Martin added 14 points while Quintin Floyd had 13 points, four assists, and four steals. Kaiden James and Rashawn Tibby had 12 points each with Tibby tacking on eight rebounds and four assists.
Nasir McDaniel had 19 points for Middletown (7-5).
The Warriors play host to Rocky Hill Friday.
CHENEY TECH 54, GOODWIN TECH 42. In New Britain, Da'mnic Gittens filled the stat sheet and finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight steals in Cheney Tech's CTC win.
The Beavers (8-4) qualified for the Division IV tournament with the victory.
Cheney Tech led 20-8 after one quarter. Dazhaun Copeland added 13 points to support Gittens. Sean Margin had 13 points for Goodwin Tech (4-8).
The Beavers are at Ellington Thursday.
