The Hall Warriors Boys Basketball team is poised to make a CIAC state playoff run, starting with a home playoff game against Staples High School on March 5th.

The team’s outstanding performance thus far has come under the direction of their coach, Bryan Moretti, and Captains James Decrasantis, Dadrian Ramos, and Maxwell Boyd. Great leadership by these players and many more have resulted in the team’s “hot streak.”

The team truly caught fire during January, even going as far to hold an eight-game win streak. “The defense was really good during the eight-game win streak. We’re rolling” Coach Bryan Moretti explained.

Hall’s riveting season thus far is a complete turn around since last year. With practically the same roster, the Warriors have managed to bolster their record from 3-17 in 2017-2018 to being 12-8 this current season. The key to such a quick change in culture and enthusiasm on the court is the result of each team member contributing in their own specific way.

“Some players lead by example, some by talking the whole time, and others do it by constant effort levels in drills and stuff like that”, said Coach Moretti. Specifically player, “Zach Ellovich was a great coach. He would say helpful things in my ear all the time during the game; Some of them were really good, game-changing ideas or plays he would come up with,” Coach mentioned.

Ellovich was injured to start the season but has since returned and highly contributed to Halls success. Furthermore, “Bryan Renker is really good with the heart and spirit aspect of playing basketball,” Moretti stated.

Many accomplishments have resulted from this season; for example, Hall swept cross-town rivals, the Conard Chieftains, twice this year with a 15 point win at home and a nail-biter at their home court. To add on, Hall beat Northwest Catholic for the first time under Coach Bryan Moretti in a high-scoring, action-packed away-game clutched by James Decrasantis and Max Boyd.  

Hall’s cool, calm, and collected backcourt, lead by Decrasantis, Onyx Erazo, and Matthew Walker make the game very exciting as their handles and deep shots cause the crowd to roar. The squad’s big men are lead by Max Boyd, Dadrian Ramos, and Bryan Renker; these players ensure a tough defensive game with many strong rebounds and tough buckets in the paint on the offensive side.

Every player is buying into the process and trusting in one another on and off the court. “This seasons been extremely fun, everybody’s been working really hard in practice,”  stated senior guard James Decrasantis. Decrasantis believes their effort in practice will translate directly into the games, so each practice must act as a game scenario.

The hot streak will hopefully continue as the boys face off against a talented Staples roster this upcoming Tuesday. The very balanced and poised Hall Warriors team are set to make history this season and have the chance to play for the title at Mohegan Sun later this month.

“Of course I want to make a run, I want to go all the way baby. I want to win the chip and bring it home,” Onyx Erazo exclaimed.