Quest for Perfection

By Sam and Tyler / February 16, 2008, 11:41 am

COVENTRY— Many sports analysts and fans enjoy discussing what it takes to be an undefeated team. Does it build confidence? Or perhaps it is just an added pressure, a distraction come postseason play. A recent Super Bowl loss may be an indication of just this. However, on this night there would be no heroic upset as the Patriots of Coventry extended their perfect season to a flawless 17-0 with a 46-43 victory over visiting Windsor Locks.

Led by Jamie Kohn, who scored a game high 24 points, the Patriots battled throughout, bending but not breaking as Windsor Locks seemed to make clutch shot after clutch shot to stay in the game. It wasn’t until an Eric Kuczynski lay-up in the closing seconds that this game was safely in hand. And, to chants of UN-DE-FEAT-ED Coventry celebrated their way off the court and into the locker room.

At halftime, the score stood at 19-19 and it was clear that the Raiders would not again suffer a 23 point loss like that of their first meeting. The third quarter would go back and forth, with Tim Quagliaroli taking a base line pass to the hoop for a lay-in that would give the Raiders a 32-30 lead heading into the final stanza.

Many in attendance sat on the edge of their seats thinking, “is this the night Coventry’s undefeated run ends?” Jamie Kohn was quick to answer for his team. Scoring 10 points in the quarter, Kohn single-handedly matched the clutch shots of Windsor Locks throughout the quarter. With 4:05 left, Kohn hit two free throws to give his team a two-point lead. Quagliaroli answered with a jumper to tie it up. After a miss by Coventry, they got it right back and Austin Hall converted a lay-up off a steal. Windsor Locks took a timeout with 1:22 to go. The Raiders came out with a plan and executed perfectly, as Ryan Gilbert hit a three and forced the Patriots to take a timeout. Both teams were well coached and it showed, as Coventry came out of the timeout and found Kohn to take back the lead with 50 seconds left. A Windsor Locks player then dribbled off his foot, and the inbounds play got Coventry the lay-up that put the home team up 3. Windsor Locks had minimal time to run any offense and were forced to take a wild 3 that didn’t touch rim as time expired.

Quagliaroli and Kohn made some big shots for their teams, but in the end it was the Coventry defense that prevailed. This Patriots squad looks like it will get to 19-0 and possibly further. The question is, do you rest guys for the state tourny and risk a loss? Or do you play for the undefeated season, knowing these kids are young and can handle the 20+ game grind of a high school season?

With games against Stafford, Tolland, and Bolton remaining, Coventry looks to close out their regular season with their unblemished record intact. Only time will tell if the pressure of an undefeated season will grow too great leading to defeat, or if Coventry, currently ranked first in class S, will run the table in the state tournament. Victories such as this one display a team’s character. A good team knows how to roll with the punches when they come, but still have the capability of delivering that knockout blow. A good team can dig deep, finding a way to win. That team tonight was Coventry.

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