10 years ago
A new chapter in local boys basketball history was ushered in as new head coaches at both local high schools made their debut on the same home court they once played on. Mo Tomlin, a standout player at Brien McMahon in the early 1990s and the Senators’ assistant coach the last six years, began his head coaching career at his alma mater with a 90-68 loss to Bridgeport Central. Shawn Simmons scored a game-high 27 points for McMahon … Simmons then scored a career-high 41 points in an 87-85 loss to St. Joe’s.
Meanwhile, Bobby Trimboli took over as head coach at Norwalk, where he played three seasons in the late ’90s. Another Bridgeport school, Warren Harding, also spoiled his debut as the Presidents overpowered the Bears 77-39. Daryl Dasent led NHS with 11 points and eight rebounds.
It was a better week for the city’s girls basketball teams. Norwalk won its second in a row, beating Harding 61-55. Chanelle Brown scored 16 points while Kelcie O’Brien and Rotisha Lewis each netted 13 for the Bears, now 2-1.
McMahon posted its first win 68-29 over Bridgeport Central. All 13 Senators scored, led by Kaitlin Whittington with 15 points, Shavonne Simmons 14, and Khea Gibbs with 10.
25 years ago
The local hockey scene took on a new look this season when several returning Norwalk High players were merged into the Brien McMahon program. The Bears, just two years removed from a 15-7-1 season with appearances in the FCIAC playoffs and Division II state semifinals, had a shortage of players during tryouts. Rather than try to field a team, city officials decided to allow the NHS players to join their crosstown rival. It would not be considered a “co-op” team by definition. Instead, the team would still operate solely as Brien McMahon.
The new additions helped the Senators open the 1992-93 season with a 6-2 win over Wilton. Five of the six goals were scored by members of last year’s Norwalk High team that went 10-9-1 and returned to the state tournament. Freshman Jason Faucher, the younger brother of Tom Faucher, who finished his career with the Bears last season as the city’s all-time leading scorer, had two goals and an assist in his first game. Mark Boccuzzi, Tim Schmidt and Jason Vlicky, all from NHS, each had a goal, as did McMahon returnee Skip Gilchrist.
The boys basketball season began this week with Norwalk High knocking off defending Class LL state champion Stamford 78-64. George Alexander, the Bears’ leading scorer as a junior last season with 17 a game, picked up where he left off as he poured in 20 points. Shaun Torpey added 16 points and Don Sikorski scored 15.
McMahon dropped its opener 88-70 to perennial power Wilbur Cross and legendary coach Bob Saulsbury, who’s retiring after this season and was making his final appearance at the BMHS gymnasium. The Senators jumped out to a 16-6 lead, but the Governors battled back to take a 44-41 halftime lead. Jake Williams, who led McMahon with 20 points and 10 rebounds, pulled the Senators within 72-65 with 4:52 left before Cross tallied the next six points as part of a 10-2 run to seal the victory.
The girls basketball season opened a week earlier and Norwalk upped its record to 3-0 under second-year head coach Ray Barry as the Lady Bears defeated Wilton 54-29. Tressan Dugan had 17 points, Joanne Bullock scored 11, and both players grabbed 15 rebounds.
Ellie Karvoski scored a career-high 31 points to lead McMahon to a 60-42 win over Trinity Catholic. Rita Williams added 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals, while Nancy Villalta had 12 points and four steals … Williams then scored 25 points and Karvoski 21 in a 69-52 win over Danbury as the Senators improved to 4-1.
50 years ago
The three local high school basketball teams opened their 1967-68 seasons with Central Catholic tipping off first with a 69-58 win over Immaculate in Danbury. Jay Reed had 35 points and 19 rebounds, Steve Connolly scored 13, and Mark Svencer added 10 points and a game-high 20 rebounds.
Brien McMahon and Norwalk High opened four nights later with the Senators posting a 94-84 win over visiting Danbury. Howard Mapp scored 26 points and Ron Brown 25 to lead the way, while John Cross netted 17 points and Brennan Taylor added 13.
Norwalk lost to Bullard-Havens 80-61 in Bridgeport, spoiling the debut of NHS head coach Ed Cerulli. Doug Torian led the Green Wave with 26 points … The Norwalk junior varsity, under first-year coach Don Quinn, won 57-45 for its 39th straight win. Elliot Harris recorded 22 points while Chris Ippolito and Isaiah Woods each scored 11.
The McMahon hockey team bounced back from a season-opening loss against Darien to beat St. Mary’s of Greenwich 4-2 at Crystal Rink. Bruce Duff scored a hat trick to spark the Senators’ win while Jim Vadas tallied the other goal. The victory was the first for new head coach Tom Shostak, a former football and hockey player at Norwalk High.