Torrington High School had a day packed with celebration and nostalgia, featuring two major events. In the afternoon, guided tours allowed visitors to walk through the school’s 62-year-old building before its upcoming replacement. Later in the evening, the 125th anniversary of the Raider boys basketball program was honored between a girls’ game against Oxford and a boys’ matchup with Holy Cross.
Retired basketball coach Tony Turina, now retired, spoke about the team’s history. Addressing the crowd on Saturday, he recounted a remarkable achievement from nearly a century ago. “In 1925, the boys’ team went undefeated in Connecticut and advanced to the semifinals of a national tournament. When they returned, 14,000 of Torrington’s 22,000 residents greeted them at the train station.”
Saturday’s turnout reflected the town’s ongoing passion for its basketball program. More than 1,000 people registered for school tours, with even more alumni exploring the halls on their own. Many stayed to support the evening’s games, creating an atmosphere that reinforced a deep sense of community.
“My team is too young to fully appreciate it now, but this experience helps them understand the strong community spirit here,” said boys basketball head coach Eric Gamari, now in his 16th season leading the Raiders.
The significance of the event extended to fans as well. While individual games may seem fleeting, moments like these, with large and engaged crowds, leave a lasting mark—especially for the players involved.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams delivered great performances. In the girls’ game, veteran coach Mike Fritch, who boasts over 400 career wins, saw his young team transform from a group that struggled in its season opener to a confident unit in its seventh game. Despite an early deficit, they staged a late-game comeback to claim a 45-40 victory, evening their record at 3-4.
The boys followed with an impressive battle against Holy Cross. Their defensive strategy centered on limiting Crusader standout Elijah Parker, who had previously scored 27 points in a season-opening win. This time, Torrington’s defensive scheme held him to just 14 points. The Raiders’ trio of big men—Chris De La Cruz (11 points), Adi Pusckarevic (13 points), and Logan Tucciaroni (16 points)—dominated both ends of the court, excelling in rebounding, passing, and scoring. They led for much of the game before Holy Cross used its speed to secure a narrow 57-54 victory.
“Our team has a high basketball IQ,” said Gamari. “They play hard, and tonight, the alumni returning made the gym incredibly loud. That energy mattered.”
Despite the boys’ close loss, both teams celebrated by cutting down the nets at the conclusion of their games. The old gym will host two more matchups before the teams play the remainder of the season on the road. The boys faced Crosby on Tuesday and will take on Naugatuck next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the girls, fresh off a victory over Northwestern on Monday, prepare for their next game against Wilby on Monday.
