VIDEO: Hamden Earns Qualifying Win Over Sheehan

By Amber Kountz

The Hamden boys’ basketball qualified for the state tournament with a 76-54 victory over Sheehan Friday night at Hamden High.

The Green Dragons (8-4) held a slim 16-14 lead over the Titans at the end of the first quarter but put the game away behind the leadership of C.J. Seaforth.

Seaforth, who shot out of the gate with three straight 3-pointers to start the game, finished with a game-high 19 points and also dished out several assists to Max Joyner and Travis March.

Late in the fourth quarter, Seaforth attempted a “Rajon Rondo” fake behind-the-back pass. He missed the layup but forced Sheehan to foul.

Seaforth made both free throws to increase the lead.

The Green Dragons’ performance got the home crowd energized.

With two minutes left in the game, Hamden up by 15, a father in the crowd yelled, “win by 20!” The Hamden crowd laughed but agreed, “win by 20!”

The fairly-large Sheehan crowd that traveled to the game did not lose hope. They continued to cheer on their teams. There was an abundance of support for these young on both sides of the court.

With less than a minute left in the game, an older woman walking along the Hamden sideline to leave the game and shouted with soul in her voice, “HAMDEN!”

The entire crowd (except for Sheehan fans) yelled “whoa!” It can only be compared to a college football game where you and your college buddies come back for the alumni game and the fight song comes on. The crowd roared in chants.

Travis March had the hot hand this game.

Sheehan left him open in the paint, where March scored 16 points, 11 of which came in the second half.

Hamden’s Aidan Carpenter added to the scoreboard with a 3-pointer in the third quarter and finished with nine points.

Sheehan’s Brad Landry scored a team-high 15 points, including three straight 3-pointers between the end of the third and fourth quarter.

The Green Dragons took on Hyde (4-6) on Monday night and will face Foran (4-9) on Wednesday.