Round of Applause
Quinnipiac hockey is killing it right now! I hope y’all read my nice story on the Bobcats in this week’s Republican-American (it was printed Thursday, so check it out) because they’re worth the attention I’m trying to give them. I know most of you couldn’t care less about hockey, and that’s a major shame. Hockey is so incredibly much better than the NBA ever thought of being, but you really have to be at the rink to enjoy hockey at its finest. And I’ll tell you, there isn’t a team playing better hockey in the United States of America right now that the group of kids playing about 20 minutes down the road at the TD Bank Sports Center. They’re ranked fifth in the nation and have the longest unbeaten streak in America this year (14 games). Quinnipiac hosts two more games this weekend, then welcomes UConn to the building Jan. 22. Seriously, give it a try. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Tell them I sent you, and they’ll probably have no idea who I am.
Woodland girls basketball deserves a hearty round of applause this week for the very nice last three weeks the Hawks have quietly enjoyed. They’ve won three in a row following their bad loss against Amity and may be one of the NVL’s surprises right now, sitting at 6-4 midway through the season. Andrea Piccolo is coming into her own down low and the versatility of Nicole Fowler and Alma Rizvani has made Woodland pretty formidable.
That’s Rank
Revision! Top Eight Teams Who Can Win the Super Bowl
1. Broncos: It’s amazing that this will be the last time we see Peyton Manning vs. Ray Lewis.
2. Patriots: Tom Brady usually feels no ill effects from the playoff bye week, but we’ll see.
3. Seahawks: Seattle played some darned good playoff football last week. I say they keep going.
4. 49ers: If Colin Kaepernick gets knocked out, I’d feel better about the Niners. D is still better.
5. Packers: Green Bay’s defense scares the heck out of me, but I don’t discount Aaron Rodgers.
6. Ravens: Joe Flacco just keeps winning. Saturday could be Lewis’ last game ever. Amazing.
7. Texans: If Brian Cushing were still playing, I’d be all over Houston. Not sure about them.
8. Falcons: Until Matt Ryan has a consistent set of postseason games, I bet against the Falcons.
Naugy Notes
Boys Basketball
The Greyhounds (4-5) finally broke a five-game losing streak with a 75-55 victory over Seymour on Tuesday night. Naugy had lost its last three games in NVL Copper Division play by single digits but got back on track in its first Brass Division game in nearly a month. Husani Foote scored a game-high 25 points for the ‘Hounds, while Brandon Kuczenski tacked on 22 and Mick Pernell added 12. The victory at Seymour followed close losses to Crosby (69-65 last Wednesday) and Torrington (67-63 last Friday). Naugatuck will try to build a new winning streak Friday against Woodland before visiting defending NVL champion Watertown on Tuesday.
Girls Basketball
Naugy’s up-and-down season continued this week as the Greyhounds lost two of three. Naugatuck (4-7) fell to Crosby, 55-49, last Wednesday before suffering a blowout loss to Torrington in a 51-26 game last Friday. The ‘Hounds managed to break the short losing skid Tuesday with a 50-37 win over Seymour. Though they only led the Wildcats by one entering the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds outscored Seymour 25-13 in the final period to pull away with the win. Emma Colucci scored nine of her 11 points in that quarter, while Amy Dietz posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Angelina Piccirillo also chipped in with nine points for the Greyhounds. Naugy will try to make it two in a row Friday at Woodland before returning home Tuesday to host Watertown.
Word from the Woods
Boys Basketball
After a perfect 5-0 start, the Hawks (5-4) have hit a rough patch and have dropped four in a row. They lost to Amity, 71-60, in the final of the Candy Cane Classic before falling at Wolcott, 49-34, last Wednesday in a crucial Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division matchup. Woodland followed those losses with a 99-54 defeat at the hands of Crosby last Friday and an 82-74 loss at Torrington on Tuesday. The Hawks shot less than 30 percent from the field against the Eagles, then trailed the Bulldogs 60-18 at the half, then wasted a combined 57-point effort by David Uhl and Rahmi Rountree against the Red Raiders. Woodland will look to get back on track Friday at Naugatuck, followed by a home game Tuesday against Holy Cross.
Girls Basketball
The Woodland girls (6-4) have won six of seven after a three-game losing streak to start the season. Two of the Hawks’ three victories over the last week were two-point upsets. They knocked off Wolcott, 52-50, last Wednesday thanks to three double-figure scorers, including Andrea Piccolo (17 points), Nicole Fowler (14) and Alma Rizvani (11). After earning a 47-36 road win over Crosby last Friday, the Hawks upset Torrington, 39-37, on Tuesday. Piccolo put back her own missed shot with fewer than 5 seconds remaining for the game-winning bucket. Piccolo registered a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Fowler added 15 points and nine boards. Fowler’s 3-pointer inside the last 2 minutes gave Woodland a three-point lead. The Hawks will try to keep their hot streak going with tough games Friday against Naugatuck and Tuesday at Holy Cross.
