Consistency a struggle

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Woodland’s Zach Bedryczuk (5) works to get around Torrington’s David White Feb. 19 in Beacon Falls. Torrington won the game, 79-37. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Zach Bedryczuk (5) works to get around Torrington’s David White Feb. 19 in Beacon Falls. Torrington won the game, 79-37. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — When the Woodland boys basketball team clicks on the offensive and defensive ends of the court, the Hawks potential is clear. In three of their four wins, the Hawks have held their opponent in the 50s and have scored over 70 points in two of those games.

However, the young team has struggled to be consistent on both ends of the court on a nightly basis.

The Hawks are 0-8 in the eight games they have allowed over 70 points and were held under 50 points in seven of those losses. That was how things played out last Friday in a 79-37 loss to Torrington.

Torrington built a 27-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and was up 38-18 at the half.

Zach Bedryczuk led the way with nine points as Jack LaPerriere and Zack Graveline chipped in with seven points each. Jon Scirpo checked in with five points and Adem Rifati added four points. Tyler Collodel and Brendan Rowley added three and two points, respectively.

Torrington never took its foot off the accelerator. The Raiders outscored the Hawks (4-15), who were without their senior center Eric Buetel due to an eye injury, 18-10 in the third and 23-9 in the fourth quarter to account for the 79-37 margin.

“Eric is a tough kid and sat out all last year with an injury,” Woodland head coach Tom Hunt said. “He is all heart and sets a good example as a senior leader.”

Woodland had the defense working Feb. 17 against Barlow but the offense struggled and the Hawks found themselves on the wrong side of a 45-27 final.

Woodland’s Jack LaPerriere shoots Feb. 19 versus Torrington in Beacon Falls. Torrington won the game, 79-37. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Jack LaPerriere shoots Feb. 19 versus Torrington in Beacon Falls. Torrington won the game, 79-37. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Barlow jumped out to an 11-6 first quarter lead. Woodland scored just one point in the second quarter and trailed 21-7 at the halftime break.

The Falcons finished the deal outscoring the Hawks 19-9 in the third quarter as they built an insurmountable 40-16 advantage. Woodland rebounded to outscore Barlow 11-5 in the final quarter.

Graveline led the Hawks with 10 points versus Barlow. Scirpo and Bedryczuk added six points each. LaPerriere (3 points) and Collodel (2 points) finished the scoring for the Hawks.

“We have been having a problem finishing and getting the ball in the basket,” Hunt said. “We have just three seniors and the rest are young and still learning to fill their roles.

“But this team has a lot of talent that is still developing and it has the one thing you can’t coach, heart. We have played games where both the offense and defense are clicking and we’ve had others where we struggled on both ends.”

Woodland will conclude the season at Naugatuck on Thursday. The Hawks beat Naugatuck two weeks ago and will be looking to finish the season on a high note.