Trap Runner posted a 67-58 victory versus V.F. McNeil to claim the championship in the Playoff Tournament of the Branford Recreation Department Men’s Basketball League for the 2017 season. No. 2 seed Trap Runner finished its campaign with a record of 8-3, while top-seeded V.F. McNeil went 7-4 for the year following the title bout on Nov. 27 at Branford High School.

Dylan Palluzzi hit five three-pointers and scored 18 points in the second half on his way to netting 30 points for the game in Trap Runner’s win over V.F. McNeil in the final. Paul Votto scored 13 points, Joel Daniels netted 10 points, DJ King scored 10 points, and Rich Cordeiro added six points for league champion Trap Runner, whose roster also featured Gordon Hill, Mark Lehane, and Christopher Young. V.F. McNeil was led by a 21-point performance from Blake Gattison and also received offensive contributions from John McGowan (9 points), Jeff Allen (8), Ed Bethke (8), and Tom Rapini (7).

One week prior to the final, Trap Runner defeated G & G Earth Materials 71-51 in one semifinal contest, with V.F. McNeil downing Warner Construction 72-50 in the other semi at the high school on Nov. 20. Trap Runner saw Daniels, Palluzzi, and Cordiero all score 17 points in its semifinal triumph against No. 3 seed G & G Earth Materials. Votto added nine points in the victory. For G & G (3-7), Andrew Johnson scored 17 points, and Dustin Ceccolini chipped in with 13.

Gattison poured in 24 points when V.F. McNeil defeated No. 4 seed Warner Construction in the other semifinal matchhup. Allen had 15 points, Bethke scored 13, and Rapini added 11 points. Warner (3-7) saw Ryan Adinolfi score 14 points in the game, while Adam Pahlsson had 12 points, with Bill Lee adding 11.

Information courtesy of Victor Amatori