Raiders stun Crosby

TORRINGTON — Torrington’s boys basketball team roared out an opening-night statement with an 82-74 win over perennial NVL power Crosby Tuesday night at Torrington High School.

“They beat us in every aspect of the game — defense, offense and rebounding — and we’re bigger than they are,” Crosby coach Nick Augelli said.

“I’m very disappointed, but kudos to Torrington. They played our style and they got to every 50/50 ball first.”

“We’ve been having hard practices,” said Torrington guard Dontae Thomas, who poured in a game-high 25 points but almost just as important, kept his composure under pressure along with the rest of the Red Raiders.

“We simplified things and that’s helpful,” Torrington coach Eric Gamari said. “Sometimes coaches try to get too creative.

“They were excellent from the outside. Our pressure didn’t work at all,” Coach Augelli said.

“We run a lot and it makes for easy baskets,” said Red Raider Hunter Murphy, whose 15 points inside and out combined with Torrington big men Joel Villanueva, Kevin Dixon and Jordan Henneberry to keep the Bulldogs on the perimeter for much of the night.

“We’re getting in shape and creating a style,” said Gamari. “You get to shoot if you run and you’re open.”

Hustle was a primary Torrington weapon.

“We had 23 turnovers — and they played a zone,” Augelli said.

The opening-night Bulldogs weren’t vintage Crosby, nevertheless they hoisted up 13 threes to nine for the Raiders, coming back from a nine-point deficit in the middle of the second half for a 42-42 halftime tie.

Bulldog high scorer Ivan Craig (19 points) had four of his five threes in the half. Justin Davis (17 points) had three of his five. And big man Markeese Davis had eight of his 14 points underneath.

The last time Torrington beat Crosby was 2009 when Raider legend Desmond Williams was a senior. Since then, the Raiders often hung close in the first half, only to fade in the second.

“We were focusing on the second half tonight,” Thomas said.

By the third quarter, the torrid pace seemed to affect the Bulldogs more than the Raiders. Outside shots that fell in the first half weren’t there as often in the second.

Craig made his only 3 on a miracle shot at the end of the third period, while Murphy was out for two more for Torrington and the Raider fastbreak flowed like vintage Crosby.

“We have 100 percent chemistry this year,” said Murphy.

Adrian Gonzalez finished a Torrington fast break for an 11-point lead (62-51) with 44 seconds left in a period that ended 62-56.

Still, the Bulldogs were far from done. A Davis 3-pointer drew Crosby up to a 73-71 deficit with 2:26 left in the game.

That’s when Torrington’s composure became the Raiders’ final weapon.

Up against Crosby’s fullcourt press, Richy Rodriguez, Justin Mattiello, Villanueva and Thomas went 7-for-8 at the foul line while turning it over just once.

When Crosby’s Davis threw up the game’s final 3 with 22 seconds left, Torrington’s statement was already made.