There weren't too many things that went right for the Putnam Clippers boys basketball team on Friday night in the championship game of the Clipper Classic- even their fans were on the losing end.
The vaunted "Z-crew", the group which inspired many other student-oriented cheering sections in Eastern Connecticut, was out done by Killingly's "K-town". That isn't my observation, that was the observation of Putnam coach Tony Falzarano.
"It was a nice crowd, a great cross town rivalry but even their fans out did our fans," Falzarano said after the 58-36 win by Killingly.
"K-town drowned out Z-crew (Friday night) and that's rare but our kids should have been more relaxed in our home gym. It was like we were playing in Killingly rather than in Putnam," he added.
The Putnam tournament is hard to beat for atmosphere. If you like good ole-fashioned rivalries, it seems this tournament always delivers as the Redmen and Clippers have played in the championship game in each of the last five years.
I had talked to Putnam Athletic Director Chris Coderre many years ago about adding a fourth local team to the mix to add to the local flavor instead of Stafford. I have to believe his reasoning is correct, however, as he asked me ""where would you put the people"" especially if you invited a Woodstock or a Tourtellotte.
I can see his point.
By the way, Happy New Year!