VIDEO: Hamden Boys' Basketball Rolls Past Career

By Amber Kountz

HAMDEN — The Hamden boys’ basketball team opened the New Year with a 71-57 victory over Career in a tension-filled contest that featured three double technical fouls in the first quarter alone Saturday at Hamden High School.

The Green Dragons improved to 4-1 with the win, while the Panthers fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Hamden was in control for most of the game but Career went on a late rally in the fourth quarter to pull within 56-51.

Hamden’s Max Joyner brought down the house with an electrifying dunk in the fourth quarter. Joyner was also fouled on the play, which brought fans from both sides to their feet. He missed the extra point, but it was enough momentum to shut the door on Career with about a minute left in the game.

Danny Ampofo led Career’s late rally with two straight 3-pointers. He finished with a game-high 25 points, including a 10-for-11 performance from the free-throw line.

There was clear tension between the rivals early in the game.

The refereed handed out three double technical fouls in the first quarter alone. A fourth technical was given in the second quarter Hamden’s C.J. Seaforth, who was accused of taunting after hitting a clutch 3-pointer in front of Career’s bench.

Cooler heads prevailed and the coaches and referees came together early in the second quarter to end any further issues.

Hamden coach Jarrad Beck said many of the players know each other and “play with a lot of emotion.”

Seaforth finished with a team-high 20 points for Hamden.

The Green Dragons improved to 5-1 with a 73-54 win over Foran on Tuesday night and will travel to Fairfield on Friday night to take on third-ranked Fairfield Prep (5-0).