Another great trip to the Quiet Corner, and other thoughts
Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while ordering some chicken wings from Archie Moore’s in New Haven for the NFL championship doubleheader.
I’ve always enjoyed my trips to the Quiet Corner and Tuesday night was no exception as I got a chance to see the Killingly girls basketball team play for the first time this season.
Despite having an off shooting night, Killingly topped East Lyme with another great defensive effort and qualified for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class MM state tournament with their eighth win.
Killingly has been on quite a run ever since Gina (Derosier) Lindberg took over the program in 2016. It became a family affair when Lindberg welcomed her dad, longtime Killingly boys coach Scott Derosier, and her brother Tom, as volunteers to her coaching staff alongside assistant coach Jim Lackner.
That’s a heck of a lot of basketball know-how sitting on Killingly’s bench these past few seasons, which included Eastern Connecticut Conference championship banners in 2020 and 2021.
Gina is still part of the girls program - she was on the bench for their win against East Lyme - but Scott is handling the head coaching duties on an interim basis this season while she studies for a master’s degree and takes care of her two-year old son, Charlie, a budding player and coach in the making already.
Killingly girls basketballKillingly girls basketball lost coach, key players from last year. They made states anyway
The Derosiers are all Killingly basketball alums. Gina was a Hall of Fame player before going on to star at Mitchell College.
The Derosiers are synonymous with winning basketball. And it started with Scott’s father, Arthur, who passed away on Dec. 30.
Arthur Derosier was a Navy veteran who worked for the Rogers Corporation and CEM and also for the Killingly Parks and Recreation Department. He was an outstanding athlete at Killingly and was a member of the first class to be inducted into the Killingly High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Wishing Scott, Gina, and Tom the best of luck the rest of the season as Killingly battles against some of the top teams in the state.
Cannabis sales in CTPlainfield might not see cannabis sales until at least 2024. What did other CT towns do?
Putnam Science Academy, NBA Africa and NBA Global games for Tom Konchalski Foundation
It doesn’t get any better for basketball junkies than this Tuesday, Jan. 31 when St. Thomas More hosts a prep basketball doubleheader featuring Putnam Science Academy and the NBA Africa and NBA Global teams. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
All proceeds (admission is $10) from this great night of basketball in Oakdale will go to the Tom Konchalski Foundation.
Konchalski, a legendary high school basketball scout, passed away in February of 2021 at the age of 74 from cancer. For nearly four decades, Konchalski, a native of Forest Hills, Queens and a fellow Fordham graduate, published High School Basketball Illustrated, a 16-part annual newsletter that contained insights about players from around the country destined for every level of college basketball.
“Tom was a great friend to St. Thomas More athletics,” said longtime Chancellors coach Jere Quinn. “Tom is credited with helping countless young men attain their dreams of playing intercollegiate basketball.”
Plainfield girls basketball'Scrappy and gutsy.' Is this the year Plainfield girls basketball wins a championship?
Baseball Hall of Fame and CIAC ice hockey state championship
Now that Scott Rolen is headed for the hallowed halls in Cooperstown, it's time to take another look at Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Dwight Evans, Curt Shilling, Luis Tiant, Dale Murphy, Graig Nettles, Lou Whitaker, Dick Allen, Dave Parker, and Shoeless Joe Jackson for Hall of Fame plaques.
The CIAC has announced that it will play its three boys ice hockey state championship games and its six state semifinal games at Quinnipiac University’s M&T Bank Arena in Hamden this March.
“The CIAC is thrilled that it will be returning to Quinnipiac University for the 2023 Ice Hockey Championships,” CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lungarini said. “CIAC’s partnership and collaboration with Quinnipiac in 2022 was extremely positive and the outcome was an extraordinary experience for the student-athletes competing in last year's championships. The CIAC is grateful for the willingness of Quinnipiac’s dedicated staff and administration to extend the privilege of playing in M&T Bank Arena to this year's semifinal and championship games.”
Griswold hopes for new turf football field
Griswold High School and Wolverines AD Stephen Cravinho are hoping to secure funding for a sparkling new turf football field. Here's a wish that all the votes go their way during the administrative process.
STUCK IN THE ‘70s: On January 29, 1972, the Boston Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2, at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Derek Sanderson, Wayne Cashman, Phil Esposito, and Reggie Leach scored goals, while Gerry Cheevers made 34 saves as the B’s improved to 33-7-8. Four months later, Bobby Orr and the Big, Bad Bruins captured their second Stanley Cup in three seasons.
Jimmy Zanor can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly girls basketball program thriving under Derosiers
