Boys’ Ice Hockey

The North Branford boys’ ice hockey team lost two contests in Southern Connecticut Conference/South-West Conference Division II action last week and now has a record of 2-5-1 this year. North Branford took an 8-6 loss against Guilford on Jan. 9 and then dropped a 4-1 decision versus Hand on Jan. 12.

Senior captain Sean McKee had a big game by scoring five goals when the T-Birds lost to Guilford on the road. Sophomore Nick Poulin had a goal and two assists for North Branford. Junior Nick Vecchio also handed out a pair of helpers, while senior Brendan Stoner had one.

Three days later, North Branford hosted Hand and lost by a 4-1 score at Northford Ice Pavilion. McKee found the back of the net on an assist from sophomore Matt Pedersen to account for North Branford’s goal.

Boys’ Basketball

North Branford took a pair of home losses in last week’s action. The T-Birds dropped a 62-52 contest versus Portland on Jan. 8, after which they lost to Cromwell by a 71-30 final on Jan. 11.

Against Portland, North Branford took a 45-39 lead into the fourth quarter, but was outscored 23-9 in the final period, and took the loss. Senior Dylan Martinik scored nine points for North Branford, as did juniors Brett Fee, Mike Sitro, and Ronnie Longo.

In the loss to Cromwell, Sitro scored nine points, while Fee added seven points for North Branford.

Girls’ Basketball

The T-Birds moved to 4-5 after losing two recent games. On Jan. 8, North Branford took a 42-35 defeat versus Portland. Three days later, the T-Birds lost to Cromwell by the score of 68-32.

Girls’ Indoor Track

The Thunderbirds competed at the Shoreline Coaches Invitational at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on Jan. 12.

Sophomore Riley Kendall had the best finish for North Branford by placing 20th in the 600 with a time of 1:53.80. Sophomore Onna Gott finished 33rd (2:00.49) in the event. In the 300, freshman Gianna DePino as finished 49th (50.59), while junior Erika Roof placed 53rd (51.69).

In relays, the 4x800 squad of Gott, freshman Olivia Toto, senior Caitlin May, and Kendall finished 13th (11:40.26); and the 4x200 group of DePino, sophomore Ashlee Amendola, sophomore Gabrielle Gibilisco, and Roof came in 23rd place with a time of 2:08.

Boys’ Indoor Track

North Branford sent four athletes to compete in last week’s Shoreline Coaches Invitational.

The T-Birds’ 4x800 relay team of senior Alvin Chan, sophomore Nicholas Tranquilli, senior Noah Taylor, and sophomore Roberto Didiano finished 23rd with a time of 10:11.58 at the meet. Individually, Chan placed 26th in the 1,600 (5:18.23), and Didiano finished 28th in the 1,000 by clocking in at 3:09.04.