After a 38-point loss to East Catholic over the weekend, Middletown coach Eric Holley said the Blue Dragons looked like a “completely different team” in a bounce-back 57-31 CCC victory over host Glastonbury on Monday night.
Senior center Elijah Wilborn scored a game-high 17 points for Middletown and asserted himself on the defensive end as Middletown, playing for the third time in five nights, posted its second win of the season.
“We start and we end with the big fella,” Holley said. “Today he was engaged, focused, and when he got the ball on the block he was patient. He looked for where the double team was coming, made great passes, had four or five dunks and a couple of blocks. I really liked what he brought to the table and guys fed off him.”
Middletown bolted to a 12-5 lead after one quarter and increased its advantage to 27-16 at halftime.
Wilborn scored 11 points in the third quarter as Middletown pulled away by outscoring Glastonbury 18-9. The Guardians (0-2), who are coached by Middletown graduate Jim Vaughn, managed just 15 points in the second half.
“We played great defense,” Holley said. “We were swarming to the ball and all of that.”
Nasir McDaniel-Cade scored 10 points for Middletown, Justice Freeman added 8 and Matt Steuerwald 7. Dan Cantafi led Glastonbury with 11 points.
After already seeing the No. 2-ranked team in the state in East Catholic, Middletown plays No. 1 Bristol Central on the road on Thursday. The Rams, led by 7-foot, UConn-bound center Donovan Clingan, beat East 74-59 on Monday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. Clingan had 29 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks.
“What I want to see them do (Thursday) is fight and battle, put pressure on their guards and not be afraid to attack the big guy,” Holley said. “If we do that, we’ll be OK.”
MIDDLETOWN (2-1)
Chace Petgrave 1 0-1 2, Matt Steuerwald 3 0-2 7, Marshall Butler 1 0-0 2, Tim Vaughters 1 0-1 2, Elijah Wilborn 8 1-4 17, Omar Gutierrez 1 0-0 3, Caiden Byrd 0 0-1 0, Dariyon Drake 1 1-2 3, Adison Brown 1 1-1 3, Justice Freeman 4 0-0 8, Nasir McDaniel-Cade 4 0-0 10. Totals: 25 3-12 57.
GLASTONBURY (0-2)
David Smith 2 2-4 8, Tyler Huff 3 0-0 6, Adam Molusis 0 4-6 4, Jordyn Sams 0 1-2 1, Dan Cantafi 4 0-0 11, Quinn Twombly 0 1-2 1, Jack Hennessy 0 0-2 0. Totals: 9 8-14 31.
Score By Quarters
Middletown…..12 15 18 12–57
Glastonbury……5 11 9 6–31
3-pointers: Middletown: McDaniel-Cade 2, Steuerwald 1, Gutierrez 1; Glastonbury: Cantafi 3, Smith 2.
Up next: Middletown at No. 1 Bristol Central, Thursday, 5:30pm.
In other boys basketball games Mondays involving area teams:
Cromwell 72, Canton 54
CANTON (1-1)
Thomas Khalil 1 0 2, Juan Alicia 2 0 4, Brandon Powell 5 5 15, Matt Benedetti 2 0 4, Connor Nadeau 2 0 4, Taylor Kim 0 2 2, Luke Maher 5 3 13. Totals: 17 10 54.
CROMWELL (2-0)
Gianluca Albert 9 6 31, Victor Payne 6 6 19, JJ Feehan 2 2 10, Logan Mure 1 0 2, Jake Salafia 3 1 10. Totals: 22 15 72.
Score By Quarters
Canton…….9 13 20 12–54
Cromwell..16 22 16 18–72
3-pointers: Cromwell: Albert 7, Salafia 3, Feehan 2, Payne 1.
Up next: Cromwell vs. East Hampton, Dec. 28, 7pm.
Notre Dame-West Haven 80, Xavier 48
XAVIER (1-1)
John Carrozzella 0 4-4 4, Ethan Bessoni 2 0-0 5, Colby Ciampi 1 0-0 2, Vik Vakati 2 0-2 5, Anthony Parker 8 4-5 22, Richie Rivers 1 1-2 3, Aidan Driscoll 3 0-0 7. Totals: 17 9-13 48.
NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN (2-0)
Matt Piechota 4 0-0 8, Andre Nugent 2 0-0 6, Mekhi Conner 1 0-0 2, Tamari Gay 6 1-2 16, Amari Davis 3 0-0 8, Andrew Lazzari 4 1-1 10, Matt Dobie 1 0-0 2, Clinton Springer 0 1-2 1, Taje Jones 6 5-9 17, Jordan Elliot 4 0-0 10. Totals: 31 8-14 80.
Score By Quarters
Xavier……10 10 6 22–48
NDWH…..15 25 17 23–80
3-pointers: Xavier: Parker 2, Driscoll 1, Bessoni 1, Vakati 1; NDWH: Gay 3, Nugent 2, Davis 2, Elliot 2, Lazzari 1.
Up next: Xavier vs. Valley Regional, Monday, 7:15.
Ellington 66, Portland 44
PORTLAND (1-1)
Joe Rus 3 0 7, Harrison Collins 4 2 13, Jake Thompson 3 0 7, Evan Johnson 1 1 3, Ben F 1 0 2, Eli Evison 3 0 7, Austin Vess 0 0 0, Nico Oliver 1 0 2. Totals: 16 3 44.
ELLINGTON (1-2)
Mike Bontempo 6 0 14, Darren Zahner 6 0 14, Eric Thibert 4 0 10, Louis Gosselin 2 0 4, Elijah Miller 7 0 14, Cody Murphy 2 0 6, Nick Monteleone 1 0 2, Camden Thomas 1 0 2. Totals: 29 0 66.
Score By Quarters
Portland……12 7 14 9–44
Ellington…..14 15 22 15-66
3-pointers: Portland: Collins 3, Rus 1, Thompson 1, Evison 1; Ellington: Bontempo 2, Zahner 2, Thibert 2, Murphy 2.
Up next: Portland vs. Old Lyme, Wednesday, 7.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
E.O. Smith 53, Middletown 52
MIDDLETOWN (2-1)
Shalyn Smith 5 0-1 14, Bryonna Bell 0 0-0 0, Jada Bryant 2 0-0 4, Alexa DeSena 0 0-0 0, Ava Studinski 0 0-0 0, Tyah Pettaway 6 2-4 14, Kaila Torres 0 2-2 2, Tajahnae Brock 0 2-2 2, Shadae Bushay 7 0-0 16. Totals: 20 6-8 52.
E.O. SMITH (2-1)
Jill Dingler 0 2-2 2, Olivia Verboven 0 1-2 1, Kate McAvoy 5 0-0 14, Claire Greene 5 7-8 20, Lilli Clark 3 2-4 9, Maddie Hughes 2 1-2 5, Bella Mallory 1 0-2 2. Totals: 16 13-20 53.
Score By Quarters
Middletown…9 22 13 8–52
E.O. Smith….14 13 15 11-53
3-pointers: Middletown: Smith 4, Bushay 2; E.O. Smith:
Up next: Middletown hosts Bristol Central, 2pm Thursday.
North Branford 54, Haddam-Killingworth 48
NORTH BRANFORD (1-3)
Hanna Senerchia 1 0-0 2, Elena Pearson 0 0-0 0, Callie Holzer 0 0-0 0, Braeden LeBeau 8 7-10 23, Keana Criscuolo 5 2-2 14, Delaney Norman 2 0-0 4, Lindsey Onofrio 1 0-0 2, Natalia Lucibello 0 0-4 0, Marissa Ricardo 3 2-5 9. Totals: 20 11 54.
HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH (0-3)
Kaleigh Bodak 6 4-5 18, Carly Rettberg 0 0-0 0, Cheyenne LaTouche 3 1-2 7, Julia Favalora 5 4-5 15, Audra Yazmer 4 0-0 8, Keira Czarkowski 0 0-2 0, Ava Ramino 0 0-0 0, Ella Geissler 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 9 48.
Score By Quarters
No. Branford..6 16 18 12–54
Haddam-Kill..14 5 18 11–48
3-pointers: NB: Criscuolo 2, Ricardo 1; H-K: Bodak 2.
Westbrook 47, Whitney Tech 8
WESTBROOK (2-0)
Adriana Stranieri 5 0 10, Leticia Pires 2 0 4, Sadie Susi 1 0 3, Jami Sacco 9 0 21, Alex Zanzalari 1 0 2, Gianni Salisbury 1 0 2, Olivia Palumbo 0 0 0, Tatiana Vallejo 1 0 3, Giovanna Silva 1 0 2, Emily Downie 0 0 0. Totals 21 0 47.
WHITNEY TECH (0-3)
Kamia Nonussi 1 0 3, Franny Vargas 2 0 5. Totals: 3 0 8.
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Score By Quarters
Westbrook……..16 18 13 0–47
Whitney Tech……3 2 3 0–8
3-pointers: Westbrook: Sacco 3, Susi 1, Vallejo 1; Whitney Tech: Vargas 1, Nonussi 1.
Of note: Sacco had 8 steals for the Knights and Stranieri added 5.
Up next: Westbrook hosts Hale-Ray, Thursday, 7.