Torrington girls basketball coach Mike Fritch earned his 400th career victory Thursday night vs. Woodland
Ashlyn Cook dribbles the ball during Torrington’s victory over Woodland. It was THS coach Mike Fritch’s 400th victory
TORRINGTON >> Career win No. 400 was never in doubt for coach Mike Fritch and his Torrington Red Raiders in a 53-21 signature win over Woodland Thursday night at Torrington High School.
Woodland (4-12) was another mismatch for Torrington (14-1) in what has appeared to be a down year for NVL girls basketball.
Nevertheless, the Raiders have long since proved their bona fides outside the league against then-No. 6 Weaver (78-70) and 11-4 Avon (66-39) from the NCCC, following an overtime loss to NVL defending champion Holy Cross (69-66).
Thursday was another practice on the way to a return match with Holy Cross in the NVL Tournament.
Trademark ball movement and defense were there from the outset in a long night for the Hawks. With his bench emptied out, Fritch, true to form, demanded just as much from his subs as he does from his starters.
“I love him. I think he’s a great guy,” fourth-year Woodland coach Jess Moffo said. “No matter what team he has, they’re prepared. You can tell he cares about each and every kid.”
“Great kids, great parents and a great school system,” is Fritch’s summary of 22 years of pure coaching success (400-123). “There’s no one special moment; they’re all good.”
“He loves the game,” Fritch’s wife, Sue, said.
What’s not to love when the Raiders take off to a 12-0 lead led by sophomore guard Brie Pergola (game-high 16 points) and senior center Mia Barbieri (three straight layups in the first period, followed by multiple blocks)?
“You can’t do anything without the kids,” Fritch said. But the coaching effort shines through in the discipline shown by a natural star like Pergola and the progress shown by Barbieri and others through four years with Fritch.
The score was 20-4 after the first period, 32-9 after two and 42-18 after three, even with a liberal sprinkling of substitutes deep on the bench.
Senior Paige Middleton (10 points) joins Pergola in double figures for Torrington. Woodland’s lone senior, Becky Hale, leads the Hawks with nine.
Besides Hale, the Hawks start two sophomores and two juniors. With experience, they’ll be fine.
The lessons from Fritch’s team Thursday aren’t just about the score. A Raider team with no huge size advantage out-rebounded Woodland 27-11. Lacking outstanding speed or quickness, Torrington had the best of a 24-13 difference in turnovers.
“It was a good night for the program and the coaching staff,” Fritch said. “I’ve been blessed with great coaches.”
The feeling is mutual.
“I’ve learned from him,” said Moffo, speaking for generations of Torrington assistant coaches and opponents, with many more still to come.
Torrington 53, Woodland 21
At Torrington High School
Woodland 4 5 9 3 – 21
Torrington 20 12 10 11 – 53
Woodland (21): Becky Hale 4-0-9; Maddie Hupprich 1-0-2; Haley Andrews 0-0-0; Carla Piccolo 0-2-2; Eliza Smith 0-0-0; Jill Chicano 0-0-0; Cameron Caswell 1-0-2; Kristen Persico 0-0-0; Camryn Johnson 1-4-6; Totals: 7-6-21.
Torrington (53): Alexis Tyrrell 0-0-0; Ashlyn Cook 1-0-2; Paige Middleton3-4-10; Brie Pergola 6-2-16; Sidnee Kovall 1-0-2; Brittany Anderson 4-0-8; Sara Bardwell 0-0-0; Mia Barbieri 3-0-6; Shelby Howe 0-0-0; Taylor Howe 1-1-3; Abbi Fisher 0-0-0; Lindsay Mathieu 0-0-0; Kaitlyn Cornish 3-0-6; Totals: 22-7-53.
Records: Woodland 4-12; Torrington 14-1.