Four area teams compete in winter holiday tournament

TORRINGTON — Four area high school basketball teams faced off over the holiday break for the 2nd annual Winter Tournament in Torrington.

The cross-conference showdown featured the Housatonic Valley Regional High School Mountaineers, Gilbert High School Yellowjackets, O’Brien Technical High School Condors, and Wolcott Technical High School Wildcats.

HVRHS opened the tournament with a game against Gilbert on Tuesday, Dec. 27. With a limited bench, Mountaineer coach Kurt Johnson started one senior, one junior, one sophomore and two freshmen.

Gilbert got off to a hot start and secured a 20-point lead by halftime. The Yellowjackets kept their foot on the gas the whole game as they pressed full court on the Mountaineers and forced turnover after turnover.

Gilbert won in the end with a final score of 74-33.

In the game between tech schools later that day, Wolcott defeated O’Brien 55-43.

As Gilbert advanced to the championship game versus Wolcott, HVRHS was relegated to the concession game against O’Brien Tech on Thursday, Dec. 29.

The Mountaineers once again faced a full-court press that they could not answer. After putting up only three points in the first quarter, the young Housatonic squad went back to the drawing board.

“Work together to get the ball,” said Coach Johnson as he rallied the team.

As the game went on, the Mountaineers moved the ball well and found good looks down-court. They didn’t shy away from contact and earned their points on the free-throw line, led by senior guard Carter Sneller who scored a team-high 12-points and hit 8 of 11 from the stripe.

Housatonic’s momentum came too late and O’Brien Tech could not be caught. The Condors secured thirrd place in the tournament with a 56-29 victory over the Mountaineers.

As for the championship game, Wolcott Tech prevailed over Gilbert in a 65-58 win.

Next year the Winter Tournament will be hosted by HVRHS and will feature the same four schools.

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein

The HVRHS Mountaineers matched up against the Gilbert Yellowjackets on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as part of the Winter Tournament in Torrington. Photo by Riley Klein
Related Articles Around the Web

Latest News

Barbara Meyers DelPrete

LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.

Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti

SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.

Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less
Veronica Lee Silvernale

MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.

Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crescendo launches 22nd season
Christine Gevert, artistic director of Crescendo
Steve Potter

Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.

This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.

Keep ReadingShow less