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03/03/2024 11:20 PMGirls’ Basketball
North Branford girls’ basketball was the No. 4 seed in the Shoreline Conference Tournament. The team faced No. 5 Coginchaug in the first round on Feb. 17 and won 54-41.
In the semifinals on Feb. 20, the Thunderbirds faced top-seeded East Hampton and lost 61-50.
North Branford entered the Class S State Tournament as the No. 15 seed. In the first round on Feb. 27, the team hosted No. 18 Windsor Locks and won 74-47.
In the second round on Feb. 29, the team traveled to No. 2 Thomaston and lost 61-45.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
The North Branford boys’ ice hockey team hosted Daniel Hand on Feb. 26 and won 2-1. Michael Matteo scored the first goal for the Thunderbirds, assisted by CJ Sherwood. Jack Maley also added a score, assisted by Collin Augur.
Fencing
On the strength of their collective performance in the CT State Championships individual event (held on March 2 at JCC in Woodbridge), the North Branford-Amity boys’ epee squad has qualified to compete in the CT High School Team Championships on Saturday, March 9. The boys’ team enters the competition seeded sixth, and will face third-seeded (and conference champion) Cheshire High School in order to advance to the quarterfinals.
NB-A's boys’ team consists of bronze medalist Atum Colón (NB '26), Santino Carbone (NB'26), Caleb Baxter (NB '26), Ben Xi (Amity '27), and alternate Lucas DeAntonio (NB '24). Xi has been recovering from a wrist injury, so he may be unable to compete.
North Branford-Amity's girls’ team, consisting of Jayden Rivera (NB '26), Edmira Marashi (NB '27), Emily Gu (Amity '24), and Gwen Leonard (NB '26) did not qualify, despite Gu's break-away performance and leadership, as well as solid performances by Rivera and Marashi. Gu took a bronze medal in the Individual Championships, and played a significant role in strengthening the girls’ team overall.
This will be the first time in at least four years that North Branford has qualified a squad for the Connecticut High School Fencing Championships, and it is also a first time for Amity High School's newly-launched co-op fencing program.