The Ellington boys basketball team, which went undefeated last year and won the Division IV state title, is currently on a 35-game win streak.
The Knights (8-0) are on top of the Div. III rankings.
“I don’t even think about that, I just want to continue to win,” Ellington coach Bob Freitas said. “Nobody really talks about it.
“I think the kids are used to it. I think they like (the challenge).”
Ellington returned almost the same team from the group that went 27-0 last year, including junior Jack Curtis, who scored his 1,000th career point in a Dec. 22 win over Somers. They also brought back 6-foot-5 sophomore point guard Reece Nicol and junior guard Ty Fieldhouse.
“It’s basically the same crew,” Freitas said. “We are all on the same page and have the same goals but we have to get better each day, no matter who our opponent is.”
The win streak almost came to a halt Jan. 3 when Ellington played NFA. The game went to overtime, with the Knights winning 57-55.
“We’ve had some good competition out of conference which is what we needed,” Freitas said. “We’re just plugging along, seeing where we’re going to land, with the rest of our conference and then in the states.”
Ellington will face an undefeated NCCC opponent, Coventry, on Friday.
Granby trending up
Granby junior center Jake Teklaw has grown a few inches and is a little stronger. That’s good news for the Bears, who are 7-1. Teklaw, who is 6-foot-8, is averaging 26 points and 10.3 rebounds.
“I think we’re really solid,” head coach Walter Hansen said. “We have a good group of kids, we have a big fella to lean on, guys who have some experience.”
Granby had a good week last week, beating Somers 62-51, Stafford 63-57 and Suffield 57-39.
“We’re trending in a good direction,” Hansen said. “The combination of those three wins has been the best week of the season.”
Top performances
Sam Bolduc, E.O. Smith: Bolduc’s offensive rebound put back gave E.O. Smith with 6.7 seconds left gave the Panthers a 54-52 victory over RHAM Thursday. Bolduc had eight points.
Missoni Brown, Windsor: Brown had 35 points, including making 9 of 11 free throws, and had eight assists and six steals in Windsor’s 87-81 win over East Catholic Friday night.
Eddie Fiske, Old Lyme: Fiske had 21 points in a 78-34 win over Hale Ray Friday.
Sincere Folk, East Catholic: Folk, a senior guard, scored 25 points in a loss to Windsor Friday.
Wilbert Franco, Innovation: Franco had 15 points and five steals in a 49-44 win over Capital Prep, Innovation’s first victory over the season, on Friday and 17 points in a loss to Glastonbury Wednesday.
Syre Gillespie, Capital Prep: Gillespie scored 28 points in a 49-44 loss to Innovation Friday.
Nyquan Jefferson, Comp Sci: Jefferson had 21 points and 10 steals in a 69-42 win over HMTCA.
JaShaun Jernigan, SMSA: Jernigan led his team in scoring with 16 points in a 52-40 victory over Aerospace Friday.
Noah Jones, Xavier: Jones scored 21 points in a 63-48 loss to West Haven Friday and 25 points in a 64-48 win over Career Tuesday.
Josiah Sims, Newington: Sims scored his 1,000th career point and had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-52 win over Hall Thursday.
Jake Teclaw, Granby: Teclaw averaged 25 points and nine rebounds in three Granby wins last week.
Games to watch
East Catholic (6-1) vs. Shaker High School (N.Y.) (8-2), Thursday, 3 p.m., Hoophall Classic Springfield College: East Catholic is coming off its first loss to Windsor; Shaker won the New York Class AAA state title last year.
Northwest Catholic (6-1) at East Catholic (6-1), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Back to back tough games for the Eagles. Both teams have a loss to Windsor.
Ellington (8-0) at Coventry (9-0), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Two unbeaten NCCC teams meet.