The Old Saybrook boys’ basketball team showed a lot of growth this winter. As a squad that put together many impressive wins and produced a lot of talent, they easily found themselves in both the conference and state postseason dances.

The Rams took on the Valley Regional Warriors in the quarterfinal round of the Shoreline Athletic Conference (SLC) tournament, winning by a score of 49-40. This was a special day for Head Coach Chris Perras and Old Saybrook because it was their first conference tournament win in years.

“That was the first Shoreline Conference tournament game that we have won in over five years. Although it was one game, going from the quarterfinals, winning that game, playing in the semifinals,” said Perras. “That was something the basketball team, since I have been there, we have not done. That was a step forward for us.”

Top contributors in the contest for Old Saybrook included Aaron Tolve (senior, captain, forward), Auggie Albert (junior, forward), and Bradley Kulmann (senior, captain, forward). Tolve led the team with 22 points and six rebounds, Albert had 13 points and seven rebounds, and Kulmann had seven points and four rebounds.

After grabbing the quarterfinal victory over Valley Regional, the Rams took on the Portland Highlanders in the semifinals. This time they weren’t so lucky, as Old Saybrook fell by a score of 59-44.

In the semifinal game, top contributors were Tolve (19 points and eight rebounds) and Wes Percival (sophomore, forward), who contributed seven points and six rebounds.

Despite coming up short of a conference championship, the Rams then shifted their focus to the state tournament, where they were seeded eighth in Division V to receive a first-round bye. They played their first state tournament game on March 8 in the second round against the Coventry Patriots, where they won by a score of 60-47. For Perras and his squad, this victory helped paint another piece of history in the program.

“Similar to the stat about the shoreline game, that was the first time that we have won a second-round [states] game in over five years,” said Perras. “Again, that is something where we now advance to the quarterfinals, we had not done that in quite some time. Another step forward for the team, for the kids, for the staff, that was something special to them.”

Tolve again led the Rams with 22 points and seven rebounds. Junior point guard and captain Brayden Cody also added to the Rams’ victory, finishing the game with 18 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Josh Lech (senior, guard) scored eight points to go along with four assists and four rebounds.

In the quarterfinals, the Rams ran into the tough number one seeded Windsor Locks Raiders on March 10. Old Saybrook took a 60-50 loss in the contest, with its season coming to a close.

“We definitely knew we had to play well, like what we did against Coventry. We were pretty balanced with the things that we did with scoring,” said Perras. “We really needed to do that against Windsor Locks. We needed to stop them; they are the best team in the state and our division.”

Top contributors from the quarterfinal matchup were Tolve at 19 points and five rebounds and Percival with seven points.

“There was a pretty large gap in the scoring there that we definitely needed someone to score at least ten points as our second highest scorer. Windsor Locks ended up winning the state championship. In terms of playing them and seeing them, they did some really nice things,” said Perras. “They are well-coached; it is one of those things that we are able to learn from. We graduate four seniors, so for the majority of the guys on the team, they are able to learn from that type of a game.”

When looking back on the season, Perras praised his three captains (Tolve, Kulmann, and Cody) for helping the players to stay focused and motivated throughout the winter.

“I thought they did a really nice job. We mentioned Aaron’s name, as he is the guy that leads by example, but also, in timeouts, he is always saying something, communicating with the guys and coaches on the team. Bradley, another senior, he did a really nice job with leading by what he does on the floor defensively,” said Perras. “He is a guy that tries to keep things together and is a glue guy for us that we needed this year. Brayden is, fortunately, a junior; he is a fiery kid, very similar to me and how I coach. He is our engine with the way he plays, and he is a quick, good defender.”

Although the team as a whole grew a lot over the course of the campaign, they faced some setbacks along the way that were out of their control.

“Even though we did make some strides, we did face some challenges. Part of that is we did not get fully healthy; we were still missing London Sweeney, who would have changed the impact of the game,” said Perras. “In terms of it all, the guys stuck together and played very hard, the guys that we did have play. We just ran into a very good Windsor Locks team, and then at the conference level, we faced the number one seed. That is one of those things that happens, and we did not have enough answers for them.”

Next season, Perras will be going into his fourth year as the Rams’ lead man and is hoping to see the program continue to elevate and reach even greater heights.

“I am looking forward to seeing the program, what I have envisioned, and what the staff has envisioned, continuing to make strides, make some gains,” said Perras. “I am looking forward to the kids responding to what happened this season, taking some success here and there but really not getting the whole picture. I am hoping that the kids respond to that and want more of it, pushing each other every day.”

The Rams full roster includes Tolve, Mitchell LeGeyt (senior, forward), Lech, Kulmann, Sweeney, Cody, Drew Kulmann (junior, guard), Albert, Jacob Speed (junior, guard), Brendan Casella (sophomore, guard), Cole Lawson (sophomore, guard), Noah Hubbard (sophomore, guard), Percival, and Greyson Richards (freshman, forward).