Last January, Conard’s Riley Fox scored his 1,000th career point in a win over Middletown.
A little over a year later, Fox, a senior who will play at Yale next year, is currently two points shy of 2,000, which is the most in school history. The Red Wolves (14-5) have one regular season game left on Tuesday against crosstown rival Hall at home at Conard High.
Fox, who is averaging 31.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, scored 40 points on Saturday in a 67-56 win over Bloomfield.
And he doesn’t have to do everything for Conard, who hasn’t lost since a 66-62 loss to Hall Jan. 18. His younger brother Aidan, a sophomore, is averaging 15 points per game while senior teammate Aidan Scully is averaging 12 points per game.
“I feel like these guys have all been playing together for a long time now,” Conard coach Jared Leghorn said. “It took a little bit at the beginning of the year to figure it out. Everybody’s really comfortable with their roles and they’re jelling really well.”
The Hall loss exposed some weaknesses in the team, Leghorn said. “Ever since then we’ve kind of taken off.”
Top performances of the week
Darek Albert, Rockville: Albert scored 32 points in a 75-61 win over Avon last Monday.
Mohamed Camara, Cheney Tech: Camara had 24 points and eight assists in a 69-61 victory over Ellington Thursday.
Rex Grabowski, Valley Regional: Grabowski had 23 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in an 83-56 loss to Fitch Wednesday and 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in a loss to Harding Friday.
London King, South Windsor: King scored 27 points as South Windsor beat Bristol Eastern 51-47 Friday.
Camden Mazerolle, E.O. Smith: Mazerolle had 15 rebounds, seven points and four blocks in a 52-49 win over Plainville Thursday.
Sincere Monroe, Windsor Locks: Monroe had a double-double (25 points, 11 assists) in a 75-69 victory over Windham Tech Thursday and scored 34 points in a 78-66 win over Stafford Friday.
Joey Pikiell, Bristol Central: Pikiell scored 21 points as Bristol Central defeated Simsbury 62-46 Friday.
Samson Reilly, East Catholic: Reilly scored 41 points in a 77-73 loss to Windsor Friday.
Derrick Sheets, Manchester: Sheets scored 28 points in a 64-50 win over RHAM Friday.
Darren Zahner, Ellington: Zahner had 31 points in a 69-61 loss to Cheney Tech Thursday.
Storylines of the week
Windsor handed three-time defending Div. I champion East Catholic a rare in-state loss Friday night, 77-73, and had three players in double digits – Anthony Williams (24), Kaiden James (18) and Jakeel Martin (19). “It really is a big one,” Williams said. “It’s a confidence booster, it got our confidence back up.”
Cromwell lost its first two games – to Morgan and SMSA – and hasn’t lost since. The Panthers, last year’s Division IV champions, plays Innovation on Wednesday and Rocky Hill on Saturday.
Games to watch this week
Hall (11-8) at Conard (14-5), Tuesday, 6:45 p.m.: Hall was the last team to beat crosstown rival Conard, now on a nine-game win streak which started with a 62-61 win over Northwest Catholic Jan. 23.
CCC tournament: The CCC tournament starts Thursday with first-round games at the higher seeded schools. The quarterfinals will take place Saturday at Enfield High and the semifinals (Tuesday) and finals (Thursday) will be played at the University of Hartford. East Catholic is the defending champion.