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By Ron P. Coderre
The local high schools finally got their moment in the spotlight as the region’s prep schools broke from their packed schedules to enjoy the holiday break. The Clipper Classic, now in its 13th season as the regional showcase holiday tournament, featured some contests that normally wouldn’t be found on the regular season schedule since the dissolution of the Quinebaug Valley Conference.
The opportunity to compete in front of enthusiastic crowds with some local pride at stake heightened the intensity of the contests. And the players didn’t disappoint the faithful in attendance. The mix of teams from the Eastern Connecticut Conference and the Constitution State Conference was a formula for competitive action to prove that the CSC could compete with the bigger ECC.
ECC Dominates as Redmen Crowned Champs
Killingly High School under the direction of second-year head coach Jim Crabtree raised its season record to 3-1 as the Redmen ran past Putnam in the title game of the Clipper Classic. In the first round Crabtree’s charges squeaked by the Tourtellotte Tigers and Crabtree’s former coach Tony Falzarano in what proved to be the highlight game of the four-game set.
Killingly made it known early that it wanted the Classic title, jumping out over host Putnam 22-3 in the first quarter and coasting to a 66-49 victory and the crown. Nick Hewitt, the tournament Most Valuable Player, was the big gun for the winners with 22 points. He was joined in double figures by Jim Sartelli (17 points) and Austin Taylor with 13 markers.
In the opening game of the tourney, it was Killingly vs. Tourtellotte and Crabtree vs. Falzarano with the student besting the mentor 47-45. The Redmen appeared poised for an easy victory as they led 30-17 at intermission. Tourtellotte spurred on by the play of its only double-digit scorer Kaevon Safford, who had 20 points, came out for the second half on fire.
The Tigers poured in 21 third period points while holding Killingly to only six points. Despite having the Redmen on the ropes the Tigers were unable to deliver the clinching blow, losing by two points. Killingly was led by the trio of Hewitt (12), Taylor (11) and Sartelli (10).
Close games were the trademark for Killingly during the week as they opened play with a 51-49 loss to a stubborn Griswold team. The rugged Hewitt was the lone Killingly performer in double figures with 19.
In addition to its loss to Killingly, Putnam split its other two contests. The Clippers captured a first round win in the Classic by beating CSC rival Ellis Tech 63-51 behind Steve Dakai’s 16-point offensive effort. Jacob Guertin with 11 points and Matthew Harmon with 13 were also in double figures for the 1-4 Clippers. Earlier in the week Putnam was crushed by Plainfield 65-25.
Tourtellotte leveled its record at 2-2 with a waltz over Ellis Tech 84-26 as Falzarano picked up career coaching victory No. 599. Safford (17 points) and Shawn Houle with 16 markers were the top Tiger scorers. In its only other game, Tourtellotte picked up a nifty 69-50 victory over Coventry as Safford had a career-high 38 points in leading the way to the win. Mike Jezierski chipped in 14 points.
Centaurs Capture Valley Regional Holiday Battle
Reigning CIAC Class L champion Woodstock Academy ventured its way to Deep River for the Valley Region Holiday Battle and came home with some more hardware for the trophy case. The Centaurs, after escaping with a 56-52 overtime win against Waterford in the opener, won the title over host Valley Regional 72-58.
Will Bourgeois, who missed last season following knee surgery, appears to be rounding into shape as he had 30 points in the title game to lead Woodstock. Chris Lowry 18 points and 10 assists and Adam Converse 15 points and 10 rebounds were instrumental in the win.
In the opener of The Battle, Woodstock persevered over ECC foe Waterford but it took an additional five minutes to decide the final outcome. Tied at 49 in regulation, the Acads outscored the Lancers in overtime to secure the win. Three players were in double figures for coach Gregg Smith’s charges, led by Lowry with 20, followed by Converse with 15 and Trent Peters with 10.
In its first game of the week Woodstock ventured to Suffield where it came away with a hard fought 44-39 win. Lowry (16) and Converse (11) proved to be the difference in the victory. The three-win week raised Woodstock’s record to 4-1.
Plainfield dropped to 2-2 on the year with a 62-48 loss at the hands of Westbrook. Ryan Pambuku was outstanding in the loss tickling the twine for 23 points. Will Robinson added 11 for the Panthers.
Hoop Shorts: Killingly’s Hewitt was named Clipper Classic MVP. He was joined on the all-tourney team by teammates Sartelli and Taylor, Tylor Genest (Putnam), and Houle and Safford (Tourtellotte)…In Deep River, the Woodstock Academy trio of Bourgeois, Lowry and Converse were name to The Battle all-tourney team…Converse, who saw little action last season for Woodstock is the brother of Ian Converse, who is now a member of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engineers…Tourtellotte’s Safford, who can be a scoring machine, may get some college looks if he does as well in the classroom as he does on the court…Griswold, which beat Killingly to start the week is in Orlando, Florida playing in a tournament at Disney…Tourtellotte’s coach Falzarano needs one victory to reach 600 career coaching victories combined at Putnam and Tourtellotte.