Stafford making push for postseason
Feb. 9—After a rough start to the season, the Stafford High boys basketball team has started to find its footing in the home stretch.
Behind a game-high 16 points from Dylan McLaughlin, the Bulldogs topped Granby 47-41 in NCCC play in Stafford.
Stafford (6-11), which started the season 2-8, needs two wins in its last three games to clinch a berth in the Division V state tournament.
Granby (2-15) led 9-2 after a quarter and 18-12 at the half. Stafford rebounded, outscoring the visitors 20-6 in the third.
Freshman Colin Tozier contributed 11 points in the win while Tom Balanceau had eight. Jackson Ellrod led Granby with 14.
Stafford visits East Windsor Friday.
BOLTON 49, COVENTRY 44. In Bolton, Colby Marsh recorded a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs picked up a NCCC win.
The win extends Bolton's winning streak to three games and halts Coventry's five-game winning run.
The Patriots (12-7) led 21-18 at the half. But the Bulldogs (9-9) outscored the visitors 31-23 in the second half to complete the comeback.
Trevor Buchanan added 19 points in the win while Ryan Orzolek had 11 points and seven rebounds
Wyatt Wendry led Coventry with 17 points while Dylan Aloisa had 13 and Gavin Covell had 10.
Bolton welcomes Canton Friday, the same night Coventry hosts Windsor Locks.
WINDSOR LOCKS 54, EAST WINDSOR 31. Sophomore Sincere Monroe's 14 points led the Raiders to a NCCC win in Windsor Locks.
Windsor Locks (12-2) led 16-7 after a quarter and 37-11 at the half. Malike Alasani added 13 points for the hosts.
Juelz Torres led East Windsor (1-15) with 14 points while Russell Williams had six.
Both teams return to action Friday. The Raiders visit Coventry while the Panthers host Stafford.
SMSA 59, ROCKVILLE 53. In Hartford, Daniel Hernandez scored 18 points to lead the host Tigers to the NCCC win.
SMSA (11-5) led 20-9 after a quarter and never looked back. Aston Whittingham added 17 points in the win while King Shaw contributed 16.
Sophomore Darek Albert led Rockville (10-9) with 14 points while classmate Andrew Carangelo chipped in 10.
Rockville wraps up the regular season at Windsor Locks Monday.
CHENEY TECH 72, EAST HARTFORD 67. Da'mnic Gitttens recorded a double-double of 39 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Beavers to a non-league win in Manchester.
Gittens' scoring output tied the school's single-game scoring record held by current Cheney coach Ismael Caro.
The Beavers (12-6) led 20-12 after a quarter. East Hartford (4-9) chipped away, but couldn't complete the comeback.
Gittens added six assists in the win. Teammate Dazhaun Copeland added a double-double of his own with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Dom LaDuca paced East Hartford with 20 points while Elijah Serrano added 18.
Cheney welcomes Grasso Tech Friday while the Hornets visit Greenwich Saturday.
