Local boys hoop squads excited to begin

Rich Zalusky, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Dec. 17—What a magical ride it was last season for the Windham boys basketball team.

The Whips dropped five of their first seven games before reeling off 19 wins in their final 21 games capped off by a 62-56 victory over Hartford Sports and Medical Science Academy to win the CIAC Division V state tournament championship. The first state title for Windham in 81 years.

During its 5- game state tournament run, Windham posted dramatic victories over Stafford, Portland and Windsor Locks, the latter on a buzzer- beating shot from Travis Mangual, Jr. at East Hartford High School in the semifinals.

And guess what? Windham returns a full squad with eyes on making another deep postseason run.

Lyman Memorial and Parish Hill both have new coaches on the sidelines, Windham Tech, guided by long- time coach Jeff Belanger, is capable of putting up points in bunches in a refined version of the Fun N' Gun offense for the Mighty Tigers.

Coventry returns its top three scorers, RHAM will be looking to rebuild with very talented younger players and the veteran coach of them all — Ron Pires — is back for his 44th season at E. O. Smith with long- time assistant Len Reed on the bench once again for the Panthers.

Here's a capsule look at our area high school boys basketball programs ...

WINDHAM

Coach: Paul Martineau ( Third year) 2021- 22 record: 21- 6 (Division V state champions, ECC Division II tournament runner- up) Returnees: Sr. G Travis Mangual, Jr., Sr. C Isaiah Mangual, Sr. G Jack Jenkins, Sr. F Zachary Robinson- Smey, Sr. G Victor Mejia, Soph. G Malcolm Hunter, Soph. G Julian Cruz, Soph. F Erik Rivera, Soph. G Darien Jenkins.

Newcomers: Soph. G/F Tyler Mangual, Jr. F Anthony Green, Jr. G/ F Tahj Jones.

Outlook: The Whips

BOYS, Page 8