The NCBA Seventh Grade Black basketball team won four consecutive games to win the 28th Annual Martin Luther King Weekend Tournament, sponsored by New Castle Youth Basketball.
New Canaan defeated New Castle 35-18, Yorktown 67-62 and Somers 68-26. In the finals they faced New Castle again where they battled it out in overtime to become the champions by way of a 58-51 win.
Back row (l-r): Coach Bobby Spezzano, Casey Whittaker, Braden Sweeney, Christian Sweeney, Leo Magnus. Front row (l-r): Gavin Bramwit, Christian Wolter, Jack Sanders, Tommy Towers, Will Bozella. Credit: Contributed
Led by head coach Bobby Spezzano, New Canaan came into the tourney having won four consecutive games going back to the previous Friday against Wilton. New Canaan got off to a fast start jumping out to an early 12-6 first quarter lead. Wilton came back to was cut the Black 7’s lead in half, trailing 24-21. Christian Sweeney (22 points) carried New Canaan in the third with multiple drives to the basket and three pointers as the teams entered the fourth tied up at 35-35. Wilton started the fourth with a 4-0 run, but New Canaan came back strong with key points and strong defense, shutting out Wilton in the last three minutes en route to a 46-39 win.
New Canaan’s Leo Magnus (#21) with a drive. Credit: Terry Dinan
After defeating the Greenwich Flame 46-30 on Saturday, New Canaan was tasked with a rare doubleheader later that day against Ridgefield. The Black 7’s trailed 24-21 at halftime despite the passing of point guard Will Bozzella and Braden Sweeney’s (7 points) great defense. After Christian Sweeney (16 points) fouled out, Leo Magnus (18 points) led New Canaan’s offense, converting 8 of 10 free throws to help the Black 7’s to a 46-43 comeback win.
On Sunday New Canaan defeated Westport 49-38, completing the four-game streak and giving them great momentum that carried through the MLK tourney.