By Michael Letendre
MERIDEN – With the postseason in sight, the Bristol Central boys basketball team had another easy one on Friday night, belting Maloney of Meriden by a 68-30 final in a CCC South attraction.
In terms of attraction, the game belonged to the Rams’ All-World center Donovan Clingan as he dropped Maloney (6-12) for a game-high 22 points, 19 rebounds, and five blocks – needing just 15 and a half minutes to produce that incredible stat-line.
In fact, all of Central’s starters were subbed out with 6:16 left to play in the third quarter as the game was a 43-4 contest at the half (yes, you read that correctly).
It was Central’s third straight game of allowing the opponent less than 35 points and the locals are cruising into Monday night’s confrontation against crosstown rival Bristol Eastern on a 36-game winning streak – the most consecutive wins in program history.
The Spartans didn’t score a single point over the first eight minutes of action as the visiting aggression led 21-0.
And even after a four point second quarter effort by Maloney, the home team trailed by 39 points and was already down and out.
Donte Collins led Maloney with nine points.
Postseason stuff
In terms of CIAC Division II state tournament rankings, the Rams hold a one game lead over Northwest Catholic (18-1) and Central will be the number one seed in the upcoming CCC Tournament.
On Tap
Central and Eastern will go to war this Monday at 6 p.m. from the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium on the campus of Bristol Eastern.
The Rams will look to go undefeated in the regular season play for the first time since 1989-90 when Central went undefeated, was 24-0 overall, and won a state championship.
The CCC Tournament commences on Thursday and Central will have a home seed and should be ranked No. 1 overall.
From there, the quarterfinal round takes place on Saturday from Enfield high school.
In fact, the semifinals and finals will also commence from Enfield.
Middletown no match for BC to open the week
Earlier in the week, Central blasted CCC South rival Middletown by an 80-34 final on the road – giving the Rams a sweep over the Blue Dragons.
