Girls’ Basketball

Behind a pair of victories last week, the Thunderbirds’ girls’ basketball team advanced its record to 4-3 for the season.

On Dec. 30, the T-Birds defeated Morgan 34-31 in a solid defensive effort where they held Morgan to less than 10 points in three of the fourth quarters. Angelina Ramada scored a team-high 10 points in the win, plus Morgan Violette and Danielle Ramada each contributed eight points.

On Jan. 3, North Branford edged Old Lyme 51-50. Kelly Oliver recorded a double-double as she scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jess Kilburn scored 14 points and Violette added 11 in the victory.

Then on Jan. 6, the T-Birds lost to Coginchaug by a 45-35 score. Violette was the T-Birds’ leading scorer with 12 points.

Boys’ Ice Hockey

In a rematch of last year’s Division II state final, the North Branford boys’ ice hockey team dropped a 7-3 contest against Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe on Jan. 4.

Sean McKee scored twice and had an assist, while Brian Mckee scored once and Brendan Dupuis had two assists for North Branford. John Lovelace faced a lot of shots in net as Farifield converted three power play goals.

Boys’ Indoor Track

North Branford competed at the Hillhouse Winter Relays on Dec. 29 and fielded three relays with the top performance coming from the 4x800 of Jason Ash, Joey DeLucia, Tony Pavic, and Michael Madoule, who placed 10th at 9:59.78.

Additionally, the 1,600 sprint medley relay of Madoule (800), Bryce Sweetapple (400), Anthony Sarmento (200), and Aaron Biesaw (200) finished 13th at 4:24.54, while the 4x400 of DeLucia, Pavic, Madoule, and Ash was 18th at 4:15.91.

Girls’ Indoor Track

The T-Birds competed in the Hillhouse Winter Relays last week. The team’s top finish came from the long jump relay unit of Winnie Chan (13-11.5), Deanna Sgambata (12-9.5), and Joceyln Streeto (12-7), who finished fifth overall with a total of 39 feet-4 inches.

Taking seventh place with a time of 5:02.47 was the 1,600 sprint medley relay team of Mackenzie Glenn (800), Jenna Bryden (400), Grace Little (200), and Sarah Criscuolo (200). The 4x800 of Jillian Damiani, Glenn, Caitlin May, and Erika Roof placed eighth at 11:40.59. The 55-meter shuttle relay team of Chan and Jessica Tang took 10th at 22.06, plus the 4x400 of Roof, May, Lydia Matteson, and Damiani placed 11th at 4:58.47. The other North Branford relay was the 4x200 squad of Little, Bryden, Criscuolo, and Gabbie Sarmento, who finished in 12th at 2:01.20.