Old Lyme, last year’s Division V champion, started the season with only one senior but had a sophomore back whom the Wildcats had relied on in their run to the state championship last year.
As the regular season is rolling to a close, the Wildcats are doing OK. Old Lyme was 14-3 as of Monday, ranked fifth in Div. V.
“We’re not playing our best, but we’re winning games,” Old Lyme coach Brady Sheffield said. “We got to clean some stuff up on both ends, but overall, it’s OK. It’s a young group – they don’t have the same sense of urgency that last year’s team had because they’re younger, which can be frustrating at times, but we’re trying our best.”
Old Lyme’s three losses were to undefeated Ellington, atop the Div. IV standings, and twice to Portland, who is 9-9.
“They have our number,” Sheffield said of Portland. “Their size gives us trouble. They’re well-coached and physical on defense.”
But Old Lyme has beaten everybody else. Sometimes the games have been closer than Sheffield expected, but then he readjusted his point of view (his players are young, he has to keep reminding himself) and now he’s happy they’ve had experience in close games.
Sophomore Eddie Fiske Jr., who scored 14 points in the state final victory over Coventry, leads the team in scoring (22.5 ppg) and rebounding (15 per game). Junior Coleman Curtiss-Reardon is averaging 15 points per game. When Curtis-Reardon was out earlier in the season due to illness, Sheffield put 6-foot-1 freshman Ryan Hill into the game against East Hampton just to see what he could do. Hill performed well and has been a starter ever since.
“We were kind of mediocre and he kind of turned us around and now we’re beating people by a lot,” Sheffield said. “He’s been great.”
Sheffield hopes to make another deep tournament run.
“It’s been a good year,” he said. “I have to remind myself we’re young. We’re basically coaching a JV team on a varsity schedule and we’re doing good.”
Top performances
Derek Albert, Rockville: Albert hit five 3-pointers, four in the second half, and had 18 points as Rockville beat Wheeler 70-42 Saturday.
Richard Chandler, Aerospace: Chandler went 10 for 15 from the 3-point line, breaking his own single game record, and scored 37 points in an 84-42 win over Bacon Academy Monday.
Andrew Crayton, Haddam-Killingworth: Crayton had a triple-double (13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists) in H-K’s 64-57 win over North Branford Saturday and 24 points, including 11 free throws, and 12 rebounds in a 60-50 win over Morgan Friday.
Gavin Daly, Lewis Mills: Daly hit seven 3-pointers and scored 31 points in a 64-61 win over Bristol Eastern Monday.
Tommy Dinunzio, Lewis Mills: Dinunzio had 20 points and 18 rebounds in a 49-41 win over Farmington on Senior Night Saturday.
Eddie Fiske, Old Lyme: Fiske had 31 points in a 77-61 win over Old Saybrook Tuesday.
Nyquan Jefferson, Comp Sci: Jefferson scored 19 points in a 62-48 loss to Bacon Academy Wednesday.
Ethan Trepanier, Old Lyme: Trepanier scored 28 points in a 71-40 win over Westbrook Friday.
Michael Waters, Xavier: Waters had 17 points in a 54-42 win over Wilbur Cross Friday.
Avant Williams, Classical Magnet: Williams scored 27 points in a 99-56 victory over Comp Sci Friday and had 23 in a win over Capital Prep Monday.
Storylines
Innovation handed Aerospace its first loss, 54-41 Friday night behind 20 points from Ibrahim Sidik and 18 from Mohammad Kulaib. Sidik also had 10 rebounds and Lebron White had eight rebounds and six points for Innovation.
Hand coach Jimmy Economopoulos got his 100th win with an 81-60 win over North Haven Friday night. Hand (14-4) has won 12 of its last 13 games.
Games to watch
Windsor (12-4) at Glastonbury (14-3), Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Glastonbury hasn’t had a game since Feb. 3 due to snow; the Guardians were supposed to play Windsor last Thursday so this is the rescheduled game and they’ve had a long time to think about the last game, a 79-65 loss to Manchester. It’s a big week for them; they also have to play East Catholic Friday. Windsor has won seven of its last eight, with a loss to Manchester in there.
Classical (14-2) at Aerospace (16-1), Thursday, 7 p.m.: Aerospace is looking to bounce back from its first loss, to Innovation; Classical has won 12 of its last 13 and its only loss was also to Innovation.
Ellington (17-0) at SMSA (14-3), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Ellington (if the Knights get past earlier games this week against Wheeler and Haddam-Killingworth) will try to close out its regular season unbeaten but SMSA, which has won its last two games, may not want to be accommodating about that.