Housatonic beats Shepaug in summer hoops battle

Housatonic beats Shepaug in summer hoops battle

Olivia Brooks plays point guard for Housatonic. She scored 10 points in the game against Shepaug Valley.

Photo by Theo Maniatis

TORRINGTON — The Housatonic Valley Regional High School girls basketball team is riding a summer hot streak.

Housatonic extended its winning streak to five games with a dominant 28-19 win over Shepaug Valley Thursday, July 17. After the result, Housatonic sits in second place, one game behind Thomaston in Torrington Summer Basketball League standings.

Conditions were sweltering at the Torrington Armory, with the thermostat reading 88 degrees at the 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Housatonic struggled to find a rhythm early on, and Shepaug jumped out to an early lead.

On the sideline, Housatonic coach Jake Plitt’s voice echoed around the court as he directed his players. Sisters Victoria and Olivia Brooks responded with strong performances on offense and defense.

When the halftime buzzer sounded, Housatonic narrowly trailed 13-12. Both teams stepped outside into cooler air, huddling together to adjust tactics and check who had tired legs.

At center court, the two referees took a moment to chat. These unsung heroes make $40 for each 40-minute TSBL game.

It’s hot, it’s sweaty, and parents constantly contest calls. But the referees don’t blow the whistle on everything — they aim to preserve the flow and spirit of the game.

“We don’t care who wins,” one referee explained. “We just want to keep the game under control.”

Maddy Johnson lines up a mid-range jump shot. She finished with six points against Shepaug Valley.Photo by Riley Klein

As the second half got underway, Housatonic jumped out to an 18-15 lead and never looked back. Victoria Brooks contributed eight second-half points.

During the penultimate possession, up by nine points, Housatonic deliberately took a shot-clock violation to wind down the time. It may be summer league, but the team was playing like it is November.

HVRHS’s rising seniors kept their cool and combined for 26 points: Olivia Brooks scored 10, Victoria Brooks scored 10 and Maddy Johnson scored six. Carmela Egan scored two points.

Shepaug was led in scoring by Abramson with eight points and Thomas with five points.

“It’s a summer league so you’re going to see some good, you’re going to see some bad,” said Coach Plitt post-game. “We ended up playing a really good second half. I thought we really came together.”

Housatonic’s summer league record advanced to 5-1. The squad will look to keep their foot on the gas through its final regular-season game on July 31.

The top four teams make the TSBL playoffs, set to start the first week of August.

Latest News

Backgammon series begins at Hotchkiss Library of Sharon
Backgammon lessons kicked off Wednesday, Aug. 13, at The Hotchkiss Library. Instructor Roger Lourie works with Pam Jarvis of Sharon, while his wife, Claude, assists at a second board with Janet Kaufman of Salisbury.
Leila Hawken

In light of rising local interest in the centuries-old game of Backgammon, Wednesday afternoon backgammon instruction and play sessions are being offered at The Hotchkiss Library of Sharon. The first such session was held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, attracting two enthusiastic participants, both of whom resolved to return for the weekly sessions.

Expert player and instructor Roger Lourie of Sharon, along with his equally expert wife, Claude, led the session, jumping right into the action of playing the game. Claude chose to pair with Janet Kaufman of Salisbury, a moderately experienced player looking to improve her skills, while Lourie teamed himself with Pam Jarvis of Sharon, who was new to the game.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dugazon opens in Sharon, blending Southern roots with global style

Pantry essentials at Dugazon

Jennifer Almquist

You are invited to celebrate the opening of Dugazon, a home and lifestyle shop located in a clapboard cottage at 19 West Main Street, the former site of The Edward in Sharon. The opening is Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m.

After careers in the world of fashion, Salisbury residents Bobby Graham and his husband, Matt Marden, have curated a collection of beautiful items that reflect their sense of design, love of hospitality, and Graham’s deep Southern roots. Dugazon is his maternal family name.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scrap to sculpture: Matt Wabrek of Birch Lane Rustics
Matt Wabrek creates sculpture from found scrap metal and wood.
L. Tomaino

A giant fish that sold at Trade Secrets, the high-end home and garden show held at Lime Rock Park, is just one of the creatures that Matt Wabrek of Birch Lane Rustics in North Canaan, creates by welding old tools and pieces of metal together.

The fish was so well liked by browsers at Trade Secrets that he received commissions for others.

Keep ReadingShow less