Portland encountered the worst-case scenario Monday in its attempt to lock up a first-round bye in the upcoming Shoreline Conference tournament.
The Highlanders, who were down two starters against undefeated Morgan, lost to the Huskies 76-65, who had four players score in double figures and pulled away in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Cromwell, Valley Regional and East Hampton won their games to knock Portland all the way to fifth in the Shoreline standings.
Cody Daggett scored a game-high 23 points for the Highlanders, who were missing guards TJ Reddington and Mason Piersall (shoulder injury).
Alex Fratamico led the Huskies with 20 points, Zach Johnson scored 19 and Rob Zirlis contributed 18. Drew Nye chipped in with 10.
Morgan (11-0), Cromwell (8-3), Valley (7-4) and East Hampton (7-4) receive byes as the top four seeds for the Shoreline tournament (the official bracket will be released Tuesday night). Portland (7-4), having lost to Valley and East Hampton this season, will be part of Saturday’s first-round action.
Saturday, First Round
- No. 12 North Branford (0-11) at No. 5 Portland (7-4), 5:30pm
- No. 9 Hale-Ray (5-6) at No. 8 Old Saybrook (5-6), 3pm
- No. 11 Westbrook (2-9) at No. 6 Old Lyme (6-5), 2pm
- No. 10 Coginchaug (2-9) at No. 7 Haddam-Killingworth (6-5), 4pm
Tuesday, Quarterfinals
- North Branford/Portland winner at No. 4 East Hampton (7-4)
- Hale-Ray/Old Saybrook winner at No. 1 Morgan (11-0)
- Westbrook/Old Lyme winner at No. 3 Valley Regional (7-4)
- Coginchaug/H-K winner at No. Cromwell (8-3)
PORTLAND (7-4)
Cody Daggett 8 7-7 23, Harrison Collins 2 0-0 4, Luke Francesco 1 0-0 3, Eli Evison 1 0-0 2, Cam Latronica 2 3-5 7, Noah Charpentier 6 1-2 15, Chris Vargas 4 0-0 11. Totals: 24 11-16 65.
MORGAN (11-0)
Zach Johnson 8 2-5 19, Drew Nye 4 1-4 10, Jason Cohen 1 0-0 3, Alex Fratamico 9 2-3 20, Rob Zirlis 8 2-2 18, Connor Duffy 1 0-0 2, Cam Carlson 1 0-0 2, Cooper Galdenzi 1 0-0 2. 33 7-14 76.
Score By Quarters
P 10 16 20 19–65
M 23 9 20 24–76
3-Pointers: P–Vargas 3, Charpentier 2, Francesco 1; M–Johnson 1, Nye 1, Cohen 1.
In other boys basketball games Monday:
Cromwell 71, Hale-Ray 52
HALE-RAY (5-6)
Matt Conroy 3 0-0 8, Loudon Chupas 5 5-6 16, Mamush Ciccarello 6 4-6 20, Ross Kuluga 1 0-0 2, D. Conroy 1 0-0 3, Braden Lankrage 1 1-1 3. Totals: 17 10-13 52.
CROMWELL (8-3)
James Grodzicki 2 0-1 4, Connor Daly 5 0-1 12, Zykarie Wilborn 5 3-4 13, Malcolm Mention 1 0-1 2, Justin Valentin 6 0-0 14, Michael Morgan 10 5-6 26. Totals: 29 8-13 71.
Score By Quarters
HR 11 11 10 20–52
C 17 19 17 18–71
3-Pointers: HR–Ciccarello 4, M. Conroy 2, D. Conroy 1, Chupas 1; C–Daly 2, Valentin 2, Morgan 1.
Valley 57, Coginchaug 41
VALLEY REGIONAL (7-4)
Simon Partyka 4 2-2 11, DiAngelo Jean-Pierre 2 0-1 4, James Marsden 6 2-2 18, Saagar Patel 3 3-5 9, Marcus SantaMaria 4 0-0 11, Keenan Pindar 1 1-2 4. Totals: 20 8-12 57.
COGINCHAUG (2-9)
Tyler Garretson 6 3-4 15, AJ DeFilio 5 1-2 14, Jake Dykas 1 0-0 3, Terry Murphy 1 0-0 2, Jayson Penney 2 3-6 7. Totals: 15 7-12 41.
Score By Quarters
V 10 16 20 11–57
C 4 8 17 12–41
3-Pointers: VR–Marsden 4, SantaMaria 3, Pindar 1, Partyka 1; C–DeFilio 3, Dykas 1.
Of note: Marsden had 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals; Partyka had 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.
East Hampton 50, Old Lyme 47
EAST HAMPTON (7-4)
Ted Zhao 4 2 10, Grant Arcidiacono 2 4 10, Nate Ireland 4 0 9, Jack Blakeley 2 0 4, Ethan Palma 1 0 3, Drew DiStefano 3 0 6, Max Karrenberg 3 0 8. Totals: 19 6 50.
OLD LYME (6-5)
Nick Cox 1 2 4, Jacob Ritchie 2 0 5, Frank Sablone 6 2 14, Colbe Andrews 6 2 14, Calvin Monte 1 0 2, Maverick Swaney 4 0 8. Totals: 20 6 47.
3-Pointers: EH–Arcidiacono 2, Karrenberg 2, Palma 1, Ireland 1; OL–Ritchie 1.
Haddam-Killingworth 68, Old Saybrook 50
HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH (6-5)
Alec Erskine 2 0 5, Chase O’Linn 2 2 6, Tate Callender 2 0 4, Mason Gorham 3 2 8, Tony Giambanis 10 4 26, Jimmy McGoey 6 3 17, Callen Powers 1 0 2. Totals: 26 11 68.
OLD SAYBROOK (5-6)
Ben Yost 5 0 10, Garrett Brady 3 0 9, Adian Pascoe 2 0 5, Riley Lawson 1 3 5, Ryan Stratton 4 0 8, Peter Waida 1 1 4, Owen Tolve 1 0 2, Bradley Kulmann 1 0 3, Aaron Tolve 1 1 4. Totals: 19 5 50.
HK 12 16 20 20–68
OS 9 11 11 19–50
3-Pointers: HK–Giambanis 2, McGoey 2, Erskine 1; OS–Brady 3, A. Tolve 1, Pascoe 1, Waida 1, Kulmann 1.
Xavier 65, Hamden 64
HAMDEN (2-10)
Jair Mathis 1 0-0 2; DeAndre Coardes 5 0-2 12; Caleb Harris 5 0-0 11; Elijah Holder 5 0-0 10; Jack Wagner 2 0-1 4; Robert Rice 2 2-4 6; Joe Williams 5 5-6 14; Sean McGarry 2 0-0 5. Totals: 27 7-13 64.
XAVIER (9-2)
Justin Menard 6 7-7 21; John Carrozzella 1 1-4 3; Parker Hunter 6 5-6 19; Anthony Parker 2 0-0 5; Nick Beaulieu 3 1-2 7; Ryan Gazzillo 2 0-0 4; Malcolm Wilson-Toliver 3 0-1 6. Totals: 23 14-20 65.
Score By Quarters
H 13 19 19 13–64
X 22 12 16 15–65
3-Pointers: X–Menard 2, Hunter 2, Parker 1; H–Coardes 2, Harris 1, McGarry 1.