NB Boys’ Hoops Drops 47-42 Decision to Morgan for Season Split

It has not been the best of seasons for the North Branford boys' basketball team as the T-Birds have dropped their last 10 contests and have not won since Jan. 9. Yet despite having just three victories coming into its Feb. 17 contest versus Morgan, North Branford was trying to sweep the Huskies under the bed for the season. The Thunderbirds had defeated Morgan in a close contest on Dec. 14 to start the season on the winning track, but committed 10 turnovers in the first half in a 47-42 loss at Morgan on Feb. 17.

"We had way too many turnovers tonight," said North Branford Head Coach Jamie Leggett. "We had about 10 or 11 in the first half. We needed to execute and we did not."

The Thunderbirds stormed out to a fast start as North Branford (3-16) started the game on an 11-0 run in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the contest. The run was kicked off by a three-pointer off the right side from Mike Forgione (5 points) and was continued with a Joe Delucia (10 points) jumper after a steal from Fragola (8 points). After a missed shot by Morgan's Jake Ward, Jordan Bognar continued the downtown party with a three to put the team in purple up 8-0. The run was capped off after Ricky Paolini (9 points) made a tough lay-up in the lane, was fouled, and made three the hard way with the foul shot.

It was here where the home squad decided enough was enough and got on the board with Mike Iavarone making a lay-up in the paint. This was followed up by an intercepted pass and a lay-up from Ward. After both clubs swapped turnovers, Nick Powers made another lay-up for the Huskies. North Branford did answer back, however, with a wide open bucket by Paolini and later a jumper from Bognar. Morgan continued its rally with contributions from Powers, Will Thompson, and Tyler Anglin to cut the deficit to three. North Branford did have a field goal from Brandon Damone (2 points), but Ward hit a teardrop shot to end the opening frame with a 17-14 score still in favor of the Thunderbirds.

After both squads exchanged baskets to open the second, Ward was fouled after making a steal and a lay-up. He hit the subsequent free throw to give Morgan a 21-19 lead, its first of the game. The Thunderbirds then started a short run with buckets from Paolini, Mitch Nowak, and a three-pointer from DeLucia to make it 26-21. Turnovers and fouls were the theme for North Branford in the rest of the opening half as Powers and Thompson each had steals late and both players also made essential shots from the charity stripe to keep pace with the Thunderbirds and give Morgan a 27-26 lead. North Branford had the final say before the trip to the locker room with a three by Delucia to put them up 29-27 at the half.

Anglin started the low-scoring third quarter with a lay-up to even the contest at 29 and Morgan then took the lead with a jumper from Iavarone. After Fragola had an offensive put-back to even the contest again, the Huskies barked back to regain the lead with a three-pointer from Anglin. North Branford would only score four more points the rest of the quarter. Fouls began to hamper the T-Birds again as Forgione committed an offensive foul and Fragola also committed one on the defensive side of the ball. Thompson had a takeaway for the Huskies that they converted into points, but Delucia continued his stellar night with a full-court drive which culminated in a lay-up and a 37-33 lead for the Huskies. North Branford then closed the quarter with a lay-up from Fragola to cut the difference to 37-35 heading into the final period of play.

Fragola led off the last period by making both free throws after he was fouled to put the Thunderbirds back on top 39-37. The momentum went back to the road squad, however, as North Branford committed costly turnovers and fouls to give Morgan a 7-0 run and put them back in front 44-39. Delucia and Bognar both took advantage of fouls to revitalize the T-Birds, yet the Huskies iced the game with three crucial free throws from Thompson that bookended multiple missed shots by North Branford down the stretch.

"We have talked all year long about playing hard," Leggett said. "And we did play hard in the first half, but we did not shoot well at all in the second half."