The Stafford boys basketball team is having its best season in over 30 years.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season at 17-3, its best record since Stafford went 18-2 in 1992 in the regular season under former long-time coach George Melnick, and the team is ranked No. 1 in Division V heading into the state tournament.
Stafford’s 17th win was a 56-53 victory over Somers last Wednesday. Senior Colin Tozier broke the all-time scoring record (1,624 points, set by Hayden Palozej in 2009) in the game– he now has 1,626 points.
“We have a lot of juniors and seniors here – it’s probably the most experienced team I’ve had in a while,” Stafford coach Ryan Fitzgerald said. “They’re very professional, do what they’re supposed to do. They play with a lot of confidence.”
Tozier is one of the three. He broke the scoring record despite not starting his freshman year. He had 32 points in the win over Somers.
“He’s just a fierce competitor,” Fitzgerald said. “Everyone talks about his scoring, which is phenomenal, but I love watching him on defense. He never takes a play off – defense, rebounding, steals. The first time I met him it was in a summer league game and he broke his collarbone diving for a ball. He plays hard.”
Stafford’s only losses are to Avon–“first game jitters,” Fitzgerald said– Ellington, last year’s Division IV state champion and Granby, whose only losses are to Ellington and Lakeview.
Stafford will open the NCCC tournament Wednesday with a quarterfinal game against East Granby. The conference championship will be played March 2.
The Bulldogs could face some conference opponents in the Division V state tournament as Somers is currently ranked fourth and Coventry is No. 5 in the standings. The state tournament will begin March 4 with qualifying rounds.
Ellington win streak ends: Ellington’s win streak – the longest in the state at 46 games – ended Friday night against Old Lyme, last year’s Division V runner-up. Old Lyme won 52-50 behind Eddie Fiske’s 20 points. Jack Curtis had 20 points for Ellington, which finished 19-1.
Highlights from last week
Joey Baker, E.O. Smith: Baker had 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in an 87-48 win over Tolland Friday.
Calvin Chaney, Comp Sci: Chaney had 15 points and got his 1,000th in a 82-72 loss to SMSA Friday.
Drew Dargati, Northwest Catholic: Dargati scored his 1,000th career point and had 36 points in a 90-42 win over Lewis Mills Friday.
Tommy Dinunzio, Lewis Mills: Dinunzio, a junior, also scored his 1,000th career point in the loss to Northwest Catholic and had 23 points Friday.
Alijah Grice, International: Grice had 30 points in a 67-63 loss to Aerospace Friday and 29 in a 83-49 win Wednesday over HMTCA.
Noah Jones, Xavier: Jones scored 21 points in a 54-46 win over Hamden Tuesday.
Anthony Tollarita, Enfield: Tollarita scored 22 points, hitting 7 of 7 free throws, in a 92-72 loss to Windsor Friday.
Kehari Walker, East Hartford: Walker scored 21 points in a 79-46 win over Manchester Thursday.
Alex Weaver, Windsor: Weaver had 31 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals in a 92-72 win over Enfield Friday.
Games to Watch
NCCC tournament quarterfinals will take place Wednesday, semifinals Friday and the finals will be Monday. Ellington (19-1) is the defending champion and top seed.
CCC tournament first round is scheduled to take place Tuesday, with quarterfinals Wednesday, semifinals Saturday and finals Monday night at the University of Hartford. Windsor is the top seed with East Hartford No. 2 and East Catholic No. 3. Northwest Catholic, the fourth seed, is the defending champion.