Sports

Alumni Game Reveals a New Side to Portland Boys' Basketball

Event on Tuesday also will honor 1982 championship team and its coach, Gene Reilly.

 

They refer to it as the new side to Portland basketball.

It’s about embracing the past, building for the future and having the community there to share in the experience with them.

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For Portland boys’ basketball co-captains Jon Sajdak and Jack Kelley, this doesn’t happen only after the season starts. These two have been at it for months with the planning and preparation for the Portland High School Boys’ Basketball Alumni Game, which will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the high school gym.

“We had our first event my freshman year back in 2008, it was the first annual boys’ basketball alumni game,” Sajdak said. “It was a fun time. We got to bring back some of the older players and it brought the town together to come back and watch them all. We haven’t had one since that year. It was supposed to be more of an annual thing. So we decided to bring it back this year so we could kind of let everyone see how our program has turned the corner and hopefully headed in the right direction.”

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Sajdak and Kelley hope to have about 25 former players attend and so far the response has been positive, with alumni ranging from the Class of 1954 to 2009 scheduled to be on hand.

There will be more to enjoy than just catching your first glimpse of this year’s varsity team, or seeing former Portland players on the court again. The evening will include a ceremony for the 1982 state championship team coached by Gene Reilly. Reilly, who won 547 games with Portland and is a member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, will be on hand to receive a plaque and the team will receive T-shirts to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of their Class S title. Don’t be surprised if you see Reilly prowling the sidelines as coach once again, too.

There also will be a raffle, food, Highlander concessions and more, including parks and recreation teams playing at halftime. All proceeds will benefit the boys’ basketball program, including apparel for the team and shoes.

“We went around to businesses mainly in Portland and Middletown and we were very thankful to get nearly $600 worth of donations,” Sajdak said. “We have a lot of great prizes and I think we’re going to do a 50-50 one as well. I think it is going to be a good fundraiser for our team.”

It’s not too late for local businesses to donate goods or services, or for individuals and families to donate separately to the program. Those interested may call Sajdak at 860-538-1492 or the school’s main office at 860-342-1720.

“Our goal is to bring as big a crowd as we can,” Sajdak said. “We’re not only trying to fundraise, but we’re trying to advertise our team and have people come during the season and watch us play.”

The cost for admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and children.

For coach Nate Turner, this is precisely the kind of spirit, teamwork and enthusiasm for the program he wants to build upon.

“This is their show. The captains, they took it and they ran with it,” Turner said of Sajdak and Kelley. “They’ve been working hard on this all summer long.

“We want to get back to where we once were. Portland was a powerhouse a few years back. We’re trying to get back to that. It helps when you have captains that take great leadership and great coaches that help out. We’re one big family. … That’s what it’s all about.”

 

Portland Boys’ Basketball Schedule

Dec. 14: at Old Saybrook, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17: at Old Lyme, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19: North Branford, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21: at Canton, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22: at Cromwell, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28: Canton, 7 p.m.

Jan. 2: East Hampton, 7 p.m.

Jan. 5: Hale-Ray, 7 p.m.

Jan. 9: at Hyde Leadership, 7:30 p.m. (Fair Haven School)

Jan. 12: at Morgan, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17: at Haddam-Killingworth, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20: Valley Regional, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24: Westbrook, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27: at Coginchaug, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 3: at Hale-Ray, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7: Hyde Leadership, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10: Old Saybrook, 7 p.m.

Feb. 13: Somers, 7 p.m.

Feb. 14: at Westbrook, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17: Old Lyme, 7 p.m.


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