The NCHS freshman basketball team split a pair of games to move its record to 6-9 on the season.
New Canaan 36, Wilton 30
The Rams kicked off the first quarter with a three pointer from Matthew Brand and a lay-up from Jack Richardson in the first two minutes of the game. The Warriors answered back with two layups. Luke Rwambuya continued the New Canaan drive with a layup, and Wilton hit a three pointer to close the first quarter in a tie 7-7.
New Canaan began the second quarter with a layup from Conor West on an assist from CJ D’Virgilio, and Richardson hit a layup. Wilton hit a foul shot and sank two layups on turnovers. Then the Warriors hit two more free throws. The Rams fought back with a layup from Arthur Bennington on an assist from Richardson. Wilton sank three more points, and New Canaan trailed at the half 15-18.
Luke Rwambuya launching a floater against Danbury. Credit: Mike Wilson
New Canaan’s Stephen Wronski contributed a layup to start the second half, and Wilton kept their lead with another layup. Wronski hit another layup on an assist from Bennington. Both teams stepped up their defense with steals and turnovers and were tied 25-25 going into the fourth quarter. Wilton tossed in 5 points in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter on two turnovers. New Canaan continued to fight with a three pointers from Oliver Crookenden and Ben Sarda. Richardson was fouled and and hit two more. The Rams momentum continued when Aiden Bramwit, Rwambuya and Sarda were all sent to the line in the last two minutes of the game and made key foul shots to win the game 36-30.
Scoring: Richardson, 11; Sarda, 5; Wronski, 5; Brand, 3; Crookenden, 3; Rwambuya, 3; Bennington, 2; Bramwit, 2; West, 2
Rebounds: Richardson, 12; D’Virgilio, 5; Bennington, 5; Brand, 2; West, 2; Wronski, 2; Bramwit, 1; Peiser, 1; Rwambuya, 1; Wilson, 1
Danbury 60, New Canaan 54
Wyatt Wilson dribbling down the court against Danbury with Ben Sarda close behind. Credit: Mike Wilson
The New Canaan Rams fought hard, but couldn’t overcome the first-place Danbury Hatters. Danbury began the first minute of the quarter with three quick scores. New Canaan answered as Richardson hit a layup and Rwambuya dropped a three-pointer. Danbury countered with an 8-0 run but New Canaan fought back with layups from D’Virgilio and Wyatt Wilson and a trey from Sarda to close the first quarter with the Rams trailing 21-14.
Danbury continued to make its shots, adding two more baskets at the beginning of the second quarter. Rwambuya hit a foul shot and Wronski sank two baskets to keep pace with the Hatters, trailing 31-24 at the half.
The Rams struggled in the third quarter to keep up with the dominant Hatters who racked up 20 points to New Canaan’s 12, ending the third quarter Danbury 51, New Canaan 36.
The Rams kicked into gear in the fourth as Richardson drained a three and Sarda sank a layup. Danbury put the pressure on and fouled New Canaan numerous times. The Rams contributed 11 foul shots with Wronski sinking seven foul shots, Wilson two, Sarda and Rwambuya one each. Despite outscoring Danbury 18-9 in the final stanza, time ran out on the Rams before the comeback could be completed.
Scoring: Wronski, 14; Rwambua, 12; Richardson, 10; Sarda, 8; Wilson, 6; D’Virgilio, 2; West, 2
Rebounds: Richardson, 7; D’Virglio, 7; Wilson, 6; Peiser, 3; Bennington, 2; West, 2; Sarda, 1; Rwambuya, 1
-Submitted by Cynthia Peiser