Photo: The host Blue Dragons left LaBella-Sullivan Gymnasium on Thursday with the tournament trophy.
By Paul Augeri
middlesexcountysports@gmail.com
MIDDLETOWN — Middletown played its best half of basketball this season over the final 16 minutes Thursday against Portland. Its reward: The Middletown Sports Hall of Fame Holiday Classic championship trophy.
The Blue Dragons’ bread and butter — pressure defense — coupled with good perimeter shooting and finishes on the fast break propelled coach Eric Holley’s squad to a 67-52 victory over the Highlanders in the first edition of the post-Christmas tournament.
Nasir Cade-McDaniel scored a team-high 17 points and was named the Classic’s MVP. The senior guard/forward had 15 points in Middletown’s win over New Britain on Tuesday.
“I’m just happy for them to bring the championship home,” an ecstatic Holley said. “It’s all about making history. I’m really proud of these kids.”
Marshall Butler and Brandon Torres scored 10 points as Middletown won its third straight game following losses to East Catholic and Newington to open the season.
Senior point guard Harrison Collins scored a game-high 22 points for the Highlanders. Joe Rusczyk added 14 points for Portland.
The teams were tied at 14 after the first quarter and went back and forth in the second before Middletown scored 8 of the last 11 points of the half to forge a 34-27 lead at the break.
The physical, fast-paced game turned in the Blue Dragons’ favor in the third quarter.
A 3-pointer by Collins 30 seconds in put the Highlanders within 36-30, but Quadir Murphy drilled a 3-pointer to give Middletown its largest lead at that point at 39-30 at the 5:34 mark.
When Ryan Kerr hit a runner with 5:12 left, no one knew it would represent Portland’s final points of the quarter. Middletown finished on an 11-0 run — highlighted by reverse layups from Tijon Johnson and Torres — to put the game away.
Portland shot just 2 of 12 from the field in the third quarter.
New Britain defeated Valley Regional 42-23 in the consolation game. Sam Hutchinson led Valley with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
PORTLAND (3-2)
Austin Vess 0 0 0, Joe Rusczyk 5 0 14, Harrison Collins 7 7 22, Ryan Kerr 1 0 2, Tyler Wydo 4 1 12, Ben Fecteau 1 0 2. Totals: 18 8 52.
MIDDLETOWN (3-2)
Tijon Johnson 4 1 11, Tyrese Allick 3 0 6, Isaiah Rodgers 0 0 0, Nasir Cade-McDaniel 7 2 17, Quadir Murphy 3 2 9, Marshall Butler 3 3 10, Justice Freeman 2 0 4, Brandon Torres 4 1 10. Totals: 26 9 67.
Score by quarters
Portland……..14 13 5 20–52
Middletown…14 20 16 17–67
3-pointers: Portland–Rusczyk 4, Wydo 3, Collins 1; Middletown–Johnson 2, Cade-McDaniel 1, Murphy 1, Butler 1, Torres 1.
Consolation: New Britain 42, Valley Regional 23
VALLEY REGIONAL (1-5)
Connor Quinn 0 0 0, Brayden Shea 0 1 1, Andrew Yermenson 2 0 5, Michael Kollmer 0 0 0, Sam Hutchinson 6 1 15, Di’Angelo Jean-Pierre 1 0 2, Jack Driscoll 0 0 0. Totals: 10 1 23.
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NEW BRITAIN (2-3)
Jaidyn Matos 0 0 0, Shawn Keaton 2 0 4, Jackson Forte 2 2 6, Demari Johnson 1 3 5, JJ Harrison 1 0 3, Tramere Cooper, 2 0 4, Alvin Ayiles 0 0 0, Juan Desideria 3 1 7, Dontay Bishop 6 1 13. Totals: 17 7 42.
Score by quarters
Valley Reg…6 5 6 6–23
New Britain..14 8 10 10–42
3-pointers: Valley–Yermenson 1, Hutchinson 1; New Britain–Harrison 1.