The Bristol Eastern boys team met a tall and talented opponent Friday night, and when that was coupled with a frigid shooting night for the Lancers, it spelled the end of their excellent season.
Innovation, with Amari Cruz and Ibrahim Sidik controlling the inside at both ends of the court and with excellent outside shooting by Jamal Kulaib, shut down Bristol Eastern 64-36.
For one quarter, the game went back and forth, with Innovation leading 12-10 with neither team leading by more than two. Sidik had five hoops inside for 10 of the Innovation points. Innovation shot 6 for 15, while Eastern hit on 5 of 13.
In the second period, a hoop by Eastern’s Dante DePass midway through the quarter brought Eastern to within two, at 20-18, but then Innnovation went on a 7-0 run to open up a 27-18 lead in the closing seconds of the half. A hoop by Brayden Dauphinais late made it a 27-20 game at intermission. The Lancers seemingly were right in the battle.
But when the second half began, everything went south. Eastern shot very poorly, lower than 25% from the floor, and was outscored 37-16 inthe half (17-5 in the third period.).
Innovation’s Kulaib opened the third quarter with a three from the corner and connected on three of his five 3’s in the period.
Eastern managed only a single three by Ben D’Amato at the 3:40 mark, and a hoop by Zaveyn Tate at the 1:50 mark, and Eastern trailed 44-25 after three periods. Eastern seemingly had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.
The casket was closed when Innovation opened the fourth with a 9-0 run to open the lead to 53-25. There was no answer from the Lancers as no one could get a shot to drop.
For the game, not a single Eastern player finished in double figures. That just about tells the entire story.
It was the final game for seniors Brayden Dauphinais, Lukas Sward, Isaiah Lawrence-Bynum, Ben D’Amato, and Ben Kozikowski. They were the leaders of a four year renaissance for the Lancer basketball program, bringing the team from the doormat of the CCC to a respected foe for every team they faced. They will certainly be missed.
This games marks the close of basketball season in Bristol. Pitchers and catchers begin practice this week.
CIAC Division IV Quarterfinals
INNOVATION 64 BRISTOL EASTERN 36
BRISTOL EASTERN (19-6): Naseem Walker 1 0 3, Brayden Dauphinais 2 1 5, Jordan Chisholm 2 0 5, Isaiah Lawrence-Bynum 0 0 0, Zaveyn Tate 3 1 7, Lukas Sward 3 0 6, Brady Bell 1 0 2, Ben Kozikowski 0 0 0, Jacob Kingsley 0 0 0, Dante DePass 1 0 2, Ben D’Amato 2 0 6. Totals: 15 2 36.
INNOVATION (23-2): Bryson De La Cruz 0 0 0, Mohammad Kulaib 1 0 2, Amir Bolden 0 0 0, Lebron White 3 0 6, Jamal Kulaib 7 1 20, Warlin Franco 3 0 7, Dariel Rosado 0 0 0, Kyle Swaby 1 0 2, Amari Cruz 6 1 13, Ibrahim Sidlik 7 0 14. Totals: 28 2 64.
Bristol Eastern: 10 10 5 11 – – – – 36
Innovation: 12 15 17 20 – – – – 64
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.