Games recently played by Wilton Basketball Association travel basketball teams.
Boys Travel
7th/8th Grade
Wilton 51, Danbury 32
The Wilton seventh/eighth grade boys team, sponsored by Pinocchio’s Pizza, entered the playoffs this past weekend with a tough draw, having to play against higher seeded teams in single elimination tournament. Their first opponent was against a team from Danbury. The Wilton boys got off to their best start of the year as leading scorer Michael Hage (21 points, three blocks) caught fire early, hitting on eight of his first 10 shots, many from three point range and Connor Drake ( 11 points, seven rebounds) also added to the attack, hitting on his first five shots. Jumping to an early lead and never looking back, the defense kept Danbury shooters off stride in the second half. Key contributions in the win from Zach Dedrick (four points, three boards), Dean Dinanno (two points, two assists) and Ethan Grandolfo (eight points, one assist) helped the team advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 51-32 win.
Wilton 64, Greenwich 30
The second game against Greenwich Boys and Girls Club was a one sided contest after the first quarter. Taking an early lead with, Hage (18 points) and Grandolfo (seven points, three rebounds) on the floor, Coach Hand was able to give valuable minutes to all team members who moved the ball quickly and led Wilton to a 64-30 blow out. Ryan Biberon secured a double double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Zach Dedrick (seven points, three steals), Andrew Travers (seven points, two assists, four steals)and John Walsh (five points, three steals) frustrated the Greenwich squad at both ends of the floor. Chase Connelly added three points from the point guard position and Dean Dinanno added three points with two assists. The boys were ready to advance and play their semi-final match against Newtown (the only team that has beaten the 20-1 Wilton seventh/eighth grade squad) but the game was snowed out. Having already won their conference, Wilton needs to win two more games to capture the FCBL 8C championship.
7th Grade
Fairfield 48, Wilton 44
Wilton’s seventh grade boys team, sponsored by Pain and Spine Specialists of CT, LLC, suffered a tough season-ending loss to hot shooting Fairfield Storm team 48-44 in the first round of the playoffs. Fairfield jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first quarter, and finished the quarter up 14-7 while making three three point shots. Wilton dominated the second quarter and held Fairfield to only three points and grabbed a 21-17 lead at halftime. Wilton extended the lead to 28-19 with 4:37 to go in the third quarter, but Fairfield fought back to make it 29-28 entering the fourth quarter. Fairfield surged to a 37-31 lead at the four minute mark. Wilton responded and closed to within one 40-39 with 2:20 left in the game, but Fairfield’s top scorer made eight straight free throws thereafter to capture the 48-44 victory.
6th Grade
Wilton 27 Newtown 23
The sixth grade boys White team sponsored by Peachwave Frozen Yogurt brought home the win. Wilton’s Matt Murphy won the tip off and Sean Sullivan kept Wilton in the game with handful of steals. Chase Autore’s fourth quarter momentum changing three pointer with Sam Strazza hitting a three and Alex Cocoros sinking a free throw sealing the deal.
Wilton 43 West Haven 39
On Saturday, Wilton faced West Haven. Probably the best showing of Wilton’s talents for the season. Matt Gulbin, Murphy and Michael Coffey owned the paint controlling the rebounds throughout the game. Jimmy McKiernan forever steady on the free throw line while Andrew Rubsam played with his heart on defense. Wilton’s strength, speed, shooting and ball handling seized the win.
Wilton 40 Weston 45
In the semifinal against Weston, the Wilton boys put on a show jumping ahead 8-0 with a three by Strazza the first quarter. Weston took the lead in second quarter. Owen Lillis and Autore each hitting a pair of three’s to give Wilton back the lead. The game went into double overtime with Wilton coming up short. But over this season, the Wilton sixth grade boys showed just what a powerhouse of talents they are and will be.
5th Grade
Wilton 57, St. Theresa’s 32.
The Wilton fifth grade boys team, sponsored by the Law Offices of Ackerly and Ward, advanced to the FCBL A Division championship game following a pair of convincing victories this past weekend. In the quarterfinals, Wilton played B North Division Regular Season Champion St. Theresa’s Trumbull. St. Theresa’s came out strong in the first half, but eventually Wilton wore down its opponent with its full-court man-to-man defense, taking a 31-17 lead into halftime. Wilton kept the defensive pressure up in the second half and combined it with selfless ball movement, great interior passing, and accurate outside shooting to pull away from St. Theresa’s. Wilton’s scoring was led by Parker Woodring (11 points plus eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals), Matthew Giller (10 points, including two, three-pointers, plus three rebounds and two steals), Kevin Hyzy (nine points plus seven assists, six rebounds and two steals), and Craig Hyzy (nine points, including one, three-pointer, plus five steals). Dillon Mannix (four points) and Grant Masterson (two steals) and Max Silva (four points) all stifled St. Theresa’s outstanding point guard with great footwork on defense. Wilton’s high-flying style of play was super-charged by Zarius Eusebe (four assists and two steals), Max Andrews (four points), and Jack Lynch (five points and six rebounds). The final score was Wilton 57, St. Theresa’s 32.
Wilton 55, West Hartford 28
Wilton played West Hartford, the FCBL A North Division Champion, in the semi-finals. Craig Hyzy (five points and five rebounds) immediately energized Wilton with a three-pointer and a running bank shot in the game’s early minutes. From that point on Wilton employed full court man-to-man defense to slowly wear down West Hartford. The defense combined with more selfless passing and strong outside shooting allowed Wilton to take a 33-15 lead into halftime. Wilton was led by the all around play of Kevin Hyzy (13 points, including 3 3-pointers, plus two assists, nine rebounds, and four steals), Eusebe (14 points, three assists, four rebounds, and two steals), and Woodring (16 rebounds, four points, three assists, two blocked shots, and one steal). Andrews (six rebounds and four points) and Lynch (seven rebounds and three points) both had strong inside games. Wilton’s defense was sparked by Giller (two blocked shots and six points), Mannix (four points, one blocked shot, and one steal), Masterson (two points, two rebounds, and one steal), and Silva (six rebounds). The final score was Wilton 55, West Hartford 28.
Wilton will play another FCBL regular season champion, the Fairfield Knicks, in the FCBL A Division Championship game on Saturday.
Girls Travel
8th Grade
Wilton 44, Devon Knights Milford 49
Sponsored by Scoops, the Wilton eighth grade girls first FCBL playoff game against Milford ended with Wilton coming up short. Wilton's Bridgette Wall hit an amazing three, three-pointers, with Kaitlin Reif sinking a three as well. Adia Burrows, Olivia Dexter, Reif, Wall ranking up the points still not enough to attain the win.
Wilton 37, Newtown 32
The second playoff game was a very intense physical game against Newtown. Hannah Belanger, Alex and Caty Greer working hard for rebounds, Sophia Strazza with multiple assists and steady on the free throw line. Sydney Cummings and Burrows controlling the paint on both ends of the court. Wall hit a three to help bring home the win.
Wilton 43, Stamford 40
The Semi-Final playoff game between Wilton and Stamford was a show of strength by Maddie Burke and Caroline Coffey controlling the rebounds, Cummings and Burrows contributing multiple points. Strazza with half a dozen assists and steals, Hannah Belanger showing her speed on defense. All this culminated into a big win to send the girls to the FCBL championship for the fourth straight year.
7th Grade
This weekend the Wilton seventh grade girls sponsored by Tavern on 7 played two playoffs games in the FCBL league.
Westport 32, Wilton 21
On Saturday, the team pulled away from Westport to win 32-21. Wilton jumped out to a halftime lead of 16-9 led by the hot shooting of Paula Perez who finished the game with eight points. Nancy Lynch was a force on the boards with eight rebounds and contributing four points for the game. In the fourth quarter, Wilton pulled away with the strong inside play from Taylor LaMantia, Francesca Goncalves, Zara Wiest and Bryn Burke that dominated on the boards combining for nearly 20 rebounds. Zoe Rappaport, Ashley Cotman and Anna Breen contributed key rebounds and assists to spark Wiltons fourth quarter rally in which Wilton pulled away as they combined for 10 points for the game. Sophie Sudano lead the scoring all of her 10 points in the fourth quarter as Wilton advanced to the semi-finals on Sunday.
Southbury 46, Wilton 3 3
On Sunday, the teams season came to an end as they lost to Southbury in a hard fought game be a final score of 46-33. Trailing 30-18 at the end of the third quarter, Wilton scored eight quick points in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to make it a four point game. But they could not get any closer. The team never gave up and were lead by the effort of Brynn Burke, Ashley Cotman, Fancesca Concalves and Paula Perez. Scoring was lead by Sophie Sudano with 14 points followed by Anna Breen, eight points; Nancy Lynch, four points; Zoe Rappaport, four points; Taylor LaMantia, two points; and Zara Wiest, one point.
6th Grade
With the season winding down, Wilton’s sixth grade girls travel basketball squad, sponsored by Servco Oil, competed in the sixth annual CT Hoopfest. Their first round matchup was against a tough squad from Wallingford. Playing shorthanded with only seven girls, Wilton got off to a slow start as they trailed at halftime, 15-4. But in the second half, the Warriors came alive. Down 17-4, Wilton staged a furious comeback as back to back baskets by Fiona O’Brien cut the deficit to 17-8. Tenacious defense at the point by Maureen Campbell and down low by Callie Judelson, Eleanor Greene and Lily Umphred completely shut down the Wallingford offense that had been so effective in the first half. Then, long range jump shots by Mary Grace DelliSanti, Grace Cahill and another from Fiona O’Brien ended the third quarter with Wilton now trailing only by three, 17-14. The momentum continued for Wilton early in the fourth as a jumper by O’Brien cut the deficit to one. Grace Cahill then completed the comeback with a long three pointer, that sent the Wilton crowd into a frenzy, as the Warriors were now in front for the first time in the game, 19-17. The 15 consecutive points was the biggest comeback of the season for this young Wilton squad. With minutes to go, an injury to Lily Umphred, followed by some controversial moments deflated the Warriors as they ended up falling to Wallingford. But despite the defeat, the girls left the court proud as their memorable comeback and fighting spirit is what will be remembered most from this game.