Printer Friendly Version - EH Boys’ Hoops Earns First State Tourney Victory in Over 20 Years

Pictured is the senior class of the East Haven boys’ basketball team in Greg Popolizo (20), Brian Velez (3), Dom Galletti (10), Jason Chapman (1), and Jaden Davis (2), as the Yellowjackets earned their first home states game in over 15 years, and inaugural state tournament victory in over two decades, last week. Photo courtesy of Frank Lyon

For the East Haven boys’ basketball team, it has been one of the great stories of resurgence in the Southern Connecticut Conference after a resounding regular season and making the league’s Elite Eight. Yet now the Yellowjackets are eager to get after it with a chase for a state championship in front of their home fans.

East Haven completed its best regular-season mark in about two decades by amassing 15 victories and a 15-5 mark overall. The Yellowjackets’ efforts earned them not only a berth to the SCC Tournament, but additionally a home game. East Haven was the No. 7 seed in the tourney and was home for No. 10 Foran in the first round on Feb. 22, prevailing by a 58-48 decision. Two days later in the quarterfinals on Feb. 24 at Branford High School, East Haven was upended 84-56 by No. 2 seed and eventual runner-up Hillhouse.

Then last week, in the Division III State Tournament, the Yellowjackets did something they had not done in over 15 and 20 years by both hosting a state tourney contest and emerging victorious in one, respectively. East Haven knocked off Berlin in the opening round before bowing out to Waterford in the second round, finishing a still very fruitful campaign at 17-7 overall.

Head Coach Frank Lyon has remained a mainstay in the local community for several years. So to not only be a part of a benchmark campaign for the program, but see the boys unlock a new level of potential, has been nothing less than the ultimate satisfaction.

“It’s very meaningful to me to be part of such a great team,” said Lyon. “I grew up playing in this town, and have coached here for 15 years. I take great pride in being this team's coach, and I’m proud of the boys for the season they have put together.”

Lyon noted that a signature win for the boys came early in the slate, when they took down a recent state champion and SCC rival in Hand on Dec. 22 with an 11-point triumph. He explained that it was then that the Yellowjackets passed a big barometer test.

“The best win we had this season was against Daniel Hand of Madison,” Lyon said. “They have a tremendous program and won the state championship just two years ago. When we won that game, I knew we could compete with a lot of teams in this league.”

In terms of statistical leaders on the court for East Haven, senior captain Dom Galletti maintains an average of 18 points, along with three assists and three rebounds per game. Junior counterpart captain London Garcia has notched a mean of 13 points and 6.5 boards per night, plus sophomore Trew Kitson posts 10 points and five off the glass per contest.

Joining Galletti and Garcia as captains this winter were seniors Greg Popolizio and Brian Velez, while additional senior class leaders were Jayden Davis and Jason Chapman. They headed off the success that flowed throughout the remaining body of the squad–truly demonstrating their willingness to work hard to win.

“All of the seniors and captains contributed to building a winning culture that the town can rally behind and take pride in,” said Lyon. “These boys want to win, and want to show they belong with some of the top teams in the SCC.”

Harkening back to the conference draw and their two games within it, Lyon and the Yellowjackets secured a mini accomplishment by making it to the weekend docket. Regardless of the margin of defeat vs. Hillhouse, the young men used it as a learning tool to help construct potentially greater successes.

“Hosting a game in the SCC Tournament was a cool accomplishment for these guys. The boys were very excited about that,” said Lyon. “Making it to the Saturday slate of SCCs was a small goal we set out before the season. We played Hillhouse and, even though we lost, it was a valuable experience for the younger guys in the program for the future.”

The Yellowjackets played host in a state tournament contest for the first occasion in over a decade and a half, when the sixth-seeded East Haven faced off with 27th-ranked Berlin in the first round of the Division III State Tournament on March 5. The Yellowjackets prevailed by five in a 74-69 triumph. Hosting No. 22 Waterford in the second round two days later, the great run came to an end for East Haven, with a 70-49 loss.

The Yellowjackets did have a week off from in-game action following the SCC exit, though they stayed plenty sharp with some exhibition action. Regardless of the second-round exit, the Yellowjackets will look back on this endeavor of a campaign with plentiful pride.

“We drew Berlin in the first round of states. We set ourselves up to host a game, which hasn’t been done in 15 years. We scrimmaged some teams in the next week to stay sharp and competitive going into the tournament,” said Lyon. “We looked to get our first state tournament win in over 20 years, and we got it. This group has worked extremely hard and they deserve the success.”

The East Haven roster is comprised of Popolizio, Velez, Galletti, Davis; juniors Garcia, Nick Bilides, Anthony Fazio; sophomores Kitson, Alec Richards, Cameron Manciero, Alexander Oliver, Jose Santos; plus freshmen Arlen Reveron, and Tyler Ho.

Lyon was back for his second season as East Haven’s bench boss, and he was assisted by coaches Jeff Petrillo, Mike Ortiz, Conor Reynolds, and newcomer Vernon Moore.