After Another Standout Year, Wildcats Look Ahead Following State Tournament Loss

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Lyme-Old Lyme High School contributor Charlotte Thuma.

LYME/OLD LYME, CT – After the Lyme-Old Lyme High School boys basketball season ended with a second-round loss in the state tournament Monday night, seniors reflected on another year of remarkable achievements while the underclassmen looked ahead.

Among the season’s highlights was Eddie Fiske Jr.’s selection as Shoreline Conference Player of the Year. Fiske, a junior in high school, and senior Colman Curtiss-Reardon were named first-team All-Shoreline, while sophomore Will McKeever received honorable mention. The Wildcats also finished undefeated in Shoreline Conference play and captured the school’s first back-to-back conference championships.

In a postgame interview, head coach Brady Sheffield said the season went “about as good as a season can go” – until Monday night’s 51-46 loss to Joel Barlow. 

“We picked the wrong night to have a bad night, and unfortunately that is what happens sometimes in sports, especially in single elimination tournaments,” he said. “Monday’s loss should not take away from all that the boys accomplished this year, however. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Joel Barlow led throughout the first quarter despite the Wildcats’ strong defensive efforts and some key baskets from Fiske, Curtiss-Reardon and sophomore Ryan Hill. The Wildcats made a run and briefly took the lead in the second quarter but could not hold onto it in the second half. McKeever brought the Wildcats to within one point with two key free throws, but the team was unable to maintain that momentum.

Curtiss-Reardon acknowledged it can be difficult to look back on a season that ended before the players could achieve everything they set out to do. But he cited many accomplishments along the way,  including the second straight Shoreline Conference title and three all-conference players.

“All of these accolades are a testament to our team’s dedication and hard work, as well as our school and town’s support and commitment to us,” he said. 

Along with Curtiss-Reardon, seniors Connor Vautrain and Oliver Wyman helped lead the team. 

Fiske said he intends to apply the lessons he learned in the year ahead.

“This season taught me a lot about who I am and who we are as a team, but it also brought out the areas of myself that need to be worked on, in order to become the best player and teammate I can be,” he said. 

Sheffield, who was 21 years old when he led the team to the 2024 Division V state title in his first year as coach, credited the community for supporting the team. 

“They are the reason we are able to play so hard on a nightly basis,” he said. “We live in the best town with the best people, and we are excited to play for everyone again next season.”