Norwalk cagers beat Staples

eschickler@bcnnew.com

The Staples boys basketball team lost 67-53 at home to Norwalk on Friday. Norwalk raised its record to 6-6, 6-4 in the FCIAC. Staples dropped to 6-7, 5-6.

"We lost to a good team," Wreckers Coach Colin Devine said. "We need to get back on track and get two more wins to qualify for states."

Staples had three leads but never more than by three points. Junior Gabe Seidman's 3-point play gave the Wreckers the aforementioned lead at 6-3 with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter. Seidman (19 points, two rebounds, four assists, five steals) was an offensive sparkplug for the Staples and kept it close with his drives and dishes. He set up classmate Frankie Bergonzi's 3-pointer that tied it 11-11 and junior Grant Fenton's layup which gave the Wreckers their last lead, 13-11 with 53.2 seconds left.

Senior Chris Maraglino laid it in for the Bears to end the quarter tied at 13-13. After Norwalk took the lead, Seidman tied it twice after that, first at 17-17 by hitting two free throws and then with a coast-to-coast layup off an interception.

The Bears were lethal from outside, especially senior captain Evan Kelley. Kelley (22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, six steals) nailed two 3-pointers and his second gave Norwalk the lead for good, 24-21 with 3:55 remaining in the half.

Bergonzi (11 points, one 3-pointer, one rebound, three assists, one steal) tried to get things going for the Wreckers and hit a layup and set up Seidman's layup before the half. However, the Bears withstood the challenge and led 30-25 at the break.

Norwalk took control in the second half and its lead peaked at 16, 51-35 on senior Mike Newton's 3-pointer. Senior Jimmy Blount (14 points) and sophomore Drew Sawyer (11 points) also helped the Bears break it open.

"We tried to guard Kelley but Norwalk's other players stepped it up and it hurt us," Seidman said.

Staples started to mount a comeback with Fenton (18 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal, one blocked shot) leading the way by hitting layups. Junior Luke Yeager (two points, two rebounds, five assists, one steal), Seidman and Bergonzi ably set up Fenton in the paint.

"I like going to the basket a lot and it helps my team out," Fenton said.

Fenton was dominant on the boards, which also fueled the rally.

Seidman's steals also contributed to the rally.

"A lot of it is going for the loose balls and being aggressive," Seidman said.

Senior captain Brendan Rankowitz (three points, three rebounds) swished a trey with 1:05 left in the game off Fenton's kickout pass to cut the lead to six, 57-51. However, the Wreckers never drew closer. Kelly laid it in after a steal to make it 59-51 with 51.2 seconds to go and Norwalk closed out the game by going 8-10 from the free throw line.

"We were a little flat and Norwalk outplayed us," Fenton said. "We hope to do better in the upcoming games."

Juniors Jake Felman (six rebounds) and Andreas Bub (one rebound) also contributed for Staples.

One nugget of good news for the Wreckers was that their season-opening loss to Bridgeport Central is now a win by forfeit because Central used an ineligible player.

"We'll take it," Devine said.