North Haven Indians' Boys’ Basketball Squad Makes States Before Losing to Branford

After rallying from a 19-point deficit to beat Foran and earn a postseason berth, the Indians' boys' basketball squad took on Branford in a rematch of a defensive duel North Haven won by three last month. Once again, the division rivals engaged in a low-scoring battle, except this time there was one major difference: the Hornets emerged victorious.

Branford exacted that revenge on Feb. 4, using a big third-quarter run to turn a one-point deficit into a nine-point lead en route to a 49-38 home triumph.

Consequently, it was a week of mixed emotions for Pete Civitello's Indians, who lost to Career 52-33, then beat Foran 54-53 as senior captain forward Billy McDonald hit a lay-up in the final minute, followed by the disappointing defeat to its Oronoque foe.

"Foran was a big win that we thought would turn the corner, but I felt like that didn't carry over tonight as we were flat on defense," said Civitello, whose team is 8-7 overall and 3-4 in the Oronoque. "We need some more guys to score in order for us to win. We've been getting scoring from Billy and Dom, but we need other people to step up."

McDonald netted 19 against Branford for the Indians, who also received six from senior captain point guard Dom Schioppo, four by sophomore forward Josh Lopez, three from junior forward Will Reaves, and two apiece by senior captain forward Jake Mikos, senior guard Spencer Oakes, and senior forward Rob Binette. Junior guard Chandlar Andrewsen and sophomore forward Quan Thomas also played for North Haven. In the Foran game, Schioppo scored 29 points and Reaves had nine.

It was a McDonald lay-up which gave North Haven a 22-21 lead with 4:55 left in the third quarter of the Branford contest, although Dylan Palluzzi hit a three to return the edge to the Hornets, followed by a jumper from Connor Moriarty that made it 26-22 with 3:20 remaining. Palluzzi then snagged a steal that led to a reverse lay-up from Seth Karlins, after which Moriarty drained a three and then Palluzzi's steal and lay-up capped a 12-2 run to put Branford up 33-24. Although McDonald hit a three the buzzer, Moriarty and Palluzzi responded by swishing their own three-pointers to start the fourth and the Hornets never looked back.

"Branford is a good team and we beat them early, but when you make mistakes like we did tonight, they're going to cash in," Coach Civitello said.

Neither team cashed much early on as North Haven held a 7-6 lead after the opening frame, even though McDonald was on fire at the outset by accounting for all seven Indians' points in the quarter. McDonald then hit two shots to start the second, followed by a Moriarty three that put Branford up 15-11. Reaves then drove to the hoop for a lay-up while drawing the foul, after which he hit the free throw to make it a one-point game. McDonald then made a lay-up late in the quarter and the Hornets led 17-16 at halftime.

In the second half, Lopez hit a lay-up and McDonald drained two to put North Haven ahead at 22-21, yet that was the last lead the Indians held as Branford responded with its 12-2 spurt at the end of the third quarter and then the two threes early in the fourth to hold a 39-28 advantage with 5:35 to play. Despite lay-ups from Lopez, McDonald, and Reaves, plus a put-back from Binette, Branford hit some clutch free throws down the stretch and also snagged a couple of steals to seal the victory.