By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – The 2021 Bristol Central boys basketball team put together so many amazing achievements over the past 12 months or so – starting a chain of events in January that saw three different sports programs at the school excel to the highest level.
It all started with Rams’ outstanding 2021 pandemic induced boys hoop campaign – going 15-0 – and then in the fall, Central had two outstanding, state level contenders.
The BCHS football squad, staring the likes of Victor Rosa and Damion Glasper, helped the team get back to the state tournament for the first time since 1987, compiling a sterling 9-2 record.
Across the gridiron, bulldog Carson Rivoira led the 12-win boys soccer program with 19 goals as the Rams had two tremendous programs dominating play.
And then that outstanding run carried over to the winter as the boys basketball team returned to the court – adding Joseph Alseph from the recently closed Sacred Heart.
Alseph joined up with Rosa, Glasper, Rivoira, and a big 7-foot-1 center by the name of Donovan Clingan – heading for UCONN – to put the scholastic basketball landscape on fire.
And after a 4-0 start to the 2021-22 campaign by the hoops squad, the football and soccer teams, as well as the basketball squad from last year’s COVID shortened season, combined for a 40-6-2 record.
That’s 48 games/matches/contests with just six losses to speak of and don’t forget, half of those setbacks were by a single point.
What a year for all three of those programs!
And what’s the encore?
Keep your eyes on the hardwood because the way the boys basketball squad is playing, will the program ever lose a game this year?
Will it take an out-of-state opponent to finally top the team?
Many considered the Rams the uncrowned state champs from the previous campaign and you can go back to 2019 when Central was a top-4 team but was denied a state tournament bid due to COVID.
And now, what’s on tap for Connecticut’s top-ranked squad in 2022?
It’s going to be an exact copy of 2021 with, perhaps, another trip to Mohegan Sun in the process?
That second trip would come in March in case you were wondering.
But Central certainly met and exceeded several of its goals from last year.
“Our goal was to end 2021 undefeated,” said Central coach Tim Barrette. “And we did that. We were 15-0 in the spring [last season] and 4-0 to start the year here.”
That’s 19-0 over the 2021 school calendar year in case your mental math isn’t so good.
What more can you ask from the program at BCHS?
More winning of course and that starts on Monday with a CCC South confrontation at Plainville high school (7 p.m.).
“That’s a pretty good run,” said Central coach Tim Barrette of the 19-0 record. “But we get back to work [against Plainville]. There’re no off days here.”
The numbers that Central is producing offensively, along with its suffocating defense, is certainly championship worthy.
The Rams are averaging 69.8 points-per-game while the opposition posts only 36.3 ppg.
That’s a staggering difference in terms of point differential.
Three of Central’s opponents haven’t scored more than 33 points against the Rams while East Catholic – ranked No. 3 in the state – lost to the locals by 15 points in a contest that was never close once it got going.
And those five Central athletes previously mentioned, along with football standout Julius Powell, have been major contributors to the basketball team.
Clingan is posting a team-leading 25.5 points-per-game while Glasper is second at 13.5 ppg.
Rivoira, known for his defensive energy and capabilities, averages 7.5 points while the ultra-unselfish Alseph chips in 5.0 ppg.
Powell (4.0 ppg) has been a great back-up to Clingan while Rosa (3.8 ppg) does a little of everything for the Rams.
It’s team first, second, and third for this group of young men, understanding it’s a one-game-at-a-time method for the program.
This group isn’t overlooking anyone on its quest to get back to Mohegan Sun Arena for a Division II title opportunity.
That all re-starts with a battle at Plainville from the Ivan Wood Gymnasium tomorrow night.
“We get work [Friday] and get ready for Plainville on Monday and go from there,” said Barrette. [In terms of being safe from] COVID, hopefully my guys make good decisions. We seemed to have all bought in right now and that buy-in is half the battle.”
“I’m really happy to coach this team.”
RIM DUST…After winning its opening day game against Bristol Eastern on December 16, Plainville has dropped four straight contests. Plainville lost to Bulkeley, 67-66, on December 20 and hasn’t scored more than 39 points in three games since.
