SPORTS - Rocky Hill boys basketball head coach Josh Dinerman excitedly texted his assistants Friday, Jan. 30.

       â€�"I had watched the film from when we played at E.O. Smith and then thought about the improvements we’ve made since that [Dec. 19, 52-49] loss--the help side, the little details and the better angles on screens. I texted my coaches and said ‘We’re getting it. We’re really getting there. We’re about to turn the corner. I’m so excited about tonight.”

       That level of excitement held steady for Dinerman throughout most of the Terriers’ CCC East match-up with the visiting Panthers that night.

       â€�"This win is by far the best team performance we’ve had this season. It’s not even close,” he said after Rocky Hill soundly defeated E.O. Smith, 74-48, to even up at 6-6. â€�"We beat a quality opponent and that feels great. I’d have to look at the film before I grade us, but effort, heart and team play gets an ‘A-.’ Our third-quarter lull holds us from an ‘A.’

       â€�"I’m really proud of these guys and how they came together. Hard work pays off in team basketball and they’re seeing it. It’s nice to see the results and get the rewards from the work we’ve put in. This is the first time in school history we’ve beaten E.O. Smith since we joined the CCC,” Dinerman pointed out.

       Sophomore Nick Casiano opened and closed the Terriers’ first quarter scoring with driving lay ups. Senior captain Brendan Boornazian hit back-to-back treys and totaled eight of his 18 points as Rocky Hill seized a 17-10 lead eight minutes in.

       â€�"At the start of last season, Brendan was kind of a sixth-seventh man coming off the bench. He’s a totally different player now. I’m really hard on Nick in practice and demand more because I know the sky’s the limit with him. I push him, push him, push him and coach him up every second. He responds, ‘Yes coach’ and gets after it,” noted Dinerman.

       After RHHS stretched its lead to 30-14 midway through the second period, an animated Casiano was nodding and talking to himself. â€�"I’m saying ‘We’re playing great because we came out strong. We’ve got to keep going because we know we can beat this team.’ We came out great so I was like ‘Let’s go, let’s keep it going, let’s keep it going.’ I started yelling it to my teammates. I was extra pumped up because of how we came out. We were on fire.”

       Third-period hoops from Boornazian and Casiano, set up by senior captain Dave Sevigny, ballooned the lead to 43-23.

       â€�"The third quarter was a little rough. We were up by 20 and then we let E.O. back into the game. We let them in the paint a few times and they had a couple of offensive rebounds,” said sophomore Alex Sikorski.

       â€�"Coach told us to keep pushing forward and not to give up. He told us to keep moving the ball around and attacking the rim,” the 6’0” guard said of the message Dinerman delivered after the Panthers closed the gap to 45-32 with 3:33 left in the period.

       â€�"We came out a little slow and soft in the third quarter. We weren’t aggressive. We were too hyped, thinking we’re up, we’re up, we’re up. It was in our heads we were so happy we were in the game. Coach calmed us down,” added Casiano, who finished with a game-high 20 points.

       E.O. Smith got to within nine, 48-39 on Jackson Meshanic’s put back to open the final quarter. The Terriers’ response sandwiched Sikorski’s three-point play and Casiano’s lay up around Boornazian’s steal and three-point play.

       With the lead at a comfortable 69-43 and the starters out of the game, the RHHS bench was on its feet clapping, cheering and counting down the final 2:07.

       â€�"When our shots weren’t falling outside, we took it to the hole. When someone wasn’t doing well, we picked each other up and kept pushing forward. This was a team effort, a team win. Everyone did his part. A lot of bench players got into the game and did well. We all stepped up. We had 17 assists and only five turnovers. That’s a great ratio,” Sikorski pointed out.

       â€�"When we boxed out, we were getting rebounds, outlet and going. They couldn’t stop us on the fast break,” according to Casiano.

       â€�"We’ve been doing 20-25 minutes of boxing out every practice. It shows. We were moving the ball around and executing our plays, which allowed us to get good shots. When someone’s covered, we kick it out to the open shooter. I’d rather give up a good shot for a great shot. We did that and it helped us win,” Boornazian added.

       â€�"We had a big lead but came out a little flat in the third quarter. E.O. Smith changed it up and we were trying to adjust. I called timeout and told the kids, ‘Play aggressive like you did from the opening tip. We want to dictate the tempo and style of play. Don’t sit back and let them dictate. Let’s play our style. Let’s get the momentum back and attack the hoop,’” Dinerman stated.

       â€�"When we share the ball, we’re a tough team to stop. We’ve had a lot of shooters all year and now we’re playing off the dribble drive, we’re getting the kick outs and when we spread the floor, we’re a tough team to stop.

       â€�"The leadership from the seniors tonight--how they wouldn’t accept losing--was probably my favorite part of the game. We’ve come a long way from the start of the season, and their leadership has helped us gel.

       â€�"Dave’s a bull going to the hoop,” Dinerman said of Sevigny (10 points). â€�"He has that nasty attitude, that ‘Hey bring it together, let’s attack it,’ and that’s what you need from a leader and point guard.

       â€�"Alex takes a lot of my wrath. He plays 30-32 minutes every game. He’s so athletic and fast with the ball. He can get to the rim when he wants. Sometimes he stops himself and tonight I let him have it when he had a little fade away. Next two times, boom, and one, back to back.”

       Sikorski, one of four Terriers in double figures, hit for 17 points.

       â€�"We’ll enjoy this win and then be back here at 7:15 a.m. tomorrow. We’ll do individuals, then practice 8-10 a.m. before film and lifting. We put in the work. We’re off Sunday and then we’re right back at it on Monday,” noted Dinerman.