Sixth grade team from Canton goes undefeated to win summer hoop title

A team of sixth grade players from Canton went undefeated (15-0) and won a championship in the Torrington Summer Basketball League. They won the game on the Armory floor in Torrington.

CANTON – It’s been a summer tradition in Torrington for three decades now – summer basketball at the state armory in Torrington.

It’s hot. Fans sit at both ends of the gym but it doesn’t help much. Players race up and down the court, which shines under the lights.

It is the place where players want to play. The Torrington Summer Basketball League has games six nights a week in various locations around the city including the Armory, Torrington High, Torrington Middle School and the Forman School in Litchfield.

But the kids want to play on the Armory floor where Torrington High’s boys basketball team used to entertain the citizens of Torrington in the first half of the 20th century. In fact, you can still see a radio booth where the announcers had to climb up the side of the wall into a small booth to broadcast about 12 feet above the floor.

When you walk by the gym at night or sit at nearby Fuessenich Park for a ballgame, you can hear the whistles from the referees, the squeaks of the player’s sneakers and an occasional cheer from the fans.

Teams from Torrington and Terryville play in a recent game at the Armory in Torrington.

A group of youngsters from Canton played in the league this summer, going undefeated (15-0) to win the championship the fifth and sixth grade division. They faced teams from Torrington, Winsted, Burlington other towns in Litchfield County.

Twelve Canton players who will enter the sixth grade in a few days won the title — Patrick Bruno; Ryan Benedetti; Matthew Benedetti; Rory Bemis; Josh Renaud; Mahari Taylor; Henry Watson; Hamilton Watson; Connor Richardson; Ben Cunowski; Jack Berry and Jake Dean. Kevin Smith coached the team.

Players from Torrington and Terryville (orange) play tough inside in a summer league game in Torrington.

Competition is also held for returning high school boys; returning high school girls; 16 and under boys; 16 and under girls; 7th and 8th grade boys and 7th and 8th grade girls. Torrington’s Bill Nataro started the league 30 years ago and is still running it today.

One of fans trying to keep the Armory cool on a warm, summer night in Torrington.