TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Blazers blasted back from a 12-9 deficit against Newcastle at home on February 15 to overwhelm the Dogies over the next three quarters and post a 55-34 victory.

Torrington turned the tables against Newcastle in the second quarter to pull ahead by two possessions, 19-14, at halftime. The Blazers clinched the win in a third quarter that saw Torrington nearly quadruple Newcastle in scoring, 22-4. 

On Friday, Torrington came up short against the No. 1 3A East team, Douglas, 76-54. The Blazers gave the top ranked team a run for its money in the second and third quarters with Torrington coming within one or two possessions of overtaking the Bearcats.

“This is a huge two weeks for us in order to determine seeding for our regional tournament in Glenrock,” coach Logan Barker said.

The Blazers are currently No. 4 in the 3A East with a 4-3 conference record.

Douglas

A six-point run by Douglas to open regulation lay the foundation for the Bearcats to win the first quarter, 21-11.

Digging deep, the Blazers found their footing in the second quarter to top Douglas in scoring, 18-15. 

Senior Mac Hibben commenced the second with a deep 3-pointer while fellow senior Weston Dyer and junior Landre Greiman both scored from inside the perimeter. Sophomore Drew Kramer and senior Brayden Hime each tallied a free throw.

Senior Ryan Moorehouse grabbed a steal and tossed in a jumper. Hime scored on a fastbreak. An outside shot by sophomore Julian Stromski made it a two-possession game with Douglas leading, 31-27.

Hibben lined up for a close-range shot, once again narrowing the Bearcats’ lead to four points, 33-29.

A buzzer-beater 3-pointer from Douglas placed the Bearcats up, 36-29, at halftime.

The score remained close early in the third quarter. Stromski drained a trey and Greiman scored on a fastbreak, whittling the Bearcats’ lead to a single possession, 36-34.

The Bearcats outscored Torrington in the fourth, 20-11.

Greiman led the Blazers in scoring against Douglas with 15 points. Dyer also netted double-digit points at 10. Moorehouse and Stromski both collected eight points, Hibben seven and Hime five.

Greiman and Hime both pulled down eight rebounds. Greiman rounded out the stat sheet with six assists and three steals.

Newcastle

The first quarter between Torrington and Newcastle ended with the Dogies ahead, 12-9.

The Blazers turned the tables in a physical second quarter that saw Torrington net 10 points while an ironclad Blazer defense held the Dogies to two.

Dyer tied the game at 12 points at the beginning of the second quarter with a 3-pointer. The Blazers regained the lead, 13-12, with a free throw by Hime. Junior Kaleb Booth snapped up a steal and Hime tossed in another free throw.

Hibben followed up with a close-range shot. Moorehouse reached up for a block and went on to convert an and-1.

The halftime scoreboard tipped in the Blazers’ favor, 19-14.

Torrington hit the ground running in an explosive third quarter, topping Newcastle in scoring, 22-4.

Hibben paced the Blazer offense with nine points while Stromski tallied seven. Dyer, Moorehouse and Booth each contributed a bucket. 

On defense, Dyer, Stromski and Hibben forced turnovers with steals while Hibben blocked an attempt by Newcastle to score.

Torrington began the final eight minutes of regulation with a 41-18 lead.

The Blazers sealed their win with 14 points in the fourth quarter. Dyer scored a reverse layup and Greiman converted an and-1.

Hibben snatched a steal and Booth tossed in a close-range shot, widening Torrington’s lead to 20 points, 48-28.

Hibben closed out the game wrangling another steal and converting an and-1 on a fastbreak.

Hibben led Torrington in scoring against Newcastle with 21 points. Stromski and Dyer each contributed nine points, Moorehouse five, four apiece by Hime and Booth and Greiman three.

Hibben and Hime both led on the boards with seven rebounds. Dyer, Greiman, Moorehouse and Stromski each delivered two assists. Hibben wrangled six steals and reached up for two blocks.