After Branford boys’ basketball graduated the bulk of its nucleus from its all-time best season of 2011-’12, some may have expected the recent campaign to be a rebuilding one for the Hornets. However, Head Coach Jake Palluzzi and his athletes clearly felt otherwise as they made this winter another to remember by winning 13 games, including a victory against East Catholic in the state tournament.

“I’m very proud of the job these kids did this year. It was a close-knit group that got the best of their abilities and gave us everything they had,” said Palluzzi, who recorded his 300th career win when Branford prevailed at Career 59-52 in overtime on Jan. 11. “Our kids always made that extra pass to get they ball where it needed to be. If someone had the hot hand, that’s where we went. It was this type of cohesiveness that allowed us to prosper.”

On April 9, Palluzzi presented a host of awards to the athletes who spurred that prosperity. Right in the middle of Branford’s prosperity, both literally and figuratively, was senior captain center Andy Klarman, who averaged 12.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks a game. Klarman came away from the season with All-SCC Oronoque honors, the Bob Ellis Award as the Hornets’ leading rebounder, the Paul Sturgess Award for most blocks, as well as the Elks’ Club Hustle Award and the John E. Knecht, Jr. Sportsmanship Award.

Senior guard Curtis Suthrland received the Desire and Dedication Award. Sutherland rebounded from a broken ankle suffered during football season to average 7.2 points a game as a spark plug off the bench. Senior shooting guard Jeff Mahon earned the Tom Murray Award for leading Branford in three-pointers with 28. Senior awards were also given to forward Isaiah Barnes and Uli Pino, the latter who missed the season with a torn ACL suffered in the soccer season.

Junior Jon Fuller emerged as the Hornets’ point guard and came away with the Joe Chandler, Jr. Most Improved Player Award, along with the Stan Petela Award for leading the team in assists with 84. Junior forward Restinel Lomotey was Branford’s leading scorer at 13.3 points a game, averaged 6.8 boards per contest, snagged 49 steals to gain the James L. MacVeigh Award, and also took eight charges to lead the Hornets, earning him the Joe Farina Take Charge Award. Junior guard Alex King led the team in free throw percentage at 80 percent to win the Jerry Crotty Award. Also contributing for Branford was junior guard/forward Connor Stratton.

Palluzzi was assisted by JV coach Rusty Gordon, freshman coach Tom Webster, and Pete Hawley.