Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 1of/33

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Maggie Fair (2) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Maggie Fair (2) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 2 of 33
Staples' Ali April (5) defends against New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Ali April (5) defends against New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 3 of 33
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) goes up for a shot as Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) goes up for a shot as Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 4 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Ali April (5) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Ali April (5) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 5 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 6 of 33
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 7 of 33
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 8 of 33

Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) controls the ball as New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.

Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) controls the ball as New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 9 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 10 of 33
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 11 of 33
New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) controls the ball as Staples' Ali April (5) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) controls the ball as Staples' Ali April (5) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 12 of 33
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 13 of 33
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) passes the ball to a teammate during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) passes the ball to a teammate during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 14 of 33
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) controls the ball as Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) controls the ball as Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 15 of 33
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) prepares to shoot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) prepares to shoot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 16 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Maggie Fair (2) and Madeline Schemel (15) defend during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball as Staples' Maggie Fair (2) and Madeline Schemel (15) defend during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 17 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 18 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 19 of 33
Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) looks to pass as New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Madeline Schemel (15) looks to pass as New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 20 of 33
Staples' Abby Lustig (11) looks to pass during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Abby Lustig (11) looks to pass during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 21 of 33
Staples' Maggie Fair (2) looks to pass as New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Maggie Fair (2) looks to pass as New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 22 of 33
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) shoots during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) shoots during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 23 of 33
New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 24 of 33
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) passes the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Elizabeth Miller (13) passes the ball during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 25 of 33
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) and Elizabeth Miller (13) put the pressure on Staples' Maggie Fair (2) during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) and Elizabeth Miller (13) put the pressure on Staples' Maggie Fair (2) during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 26 of 33
New Canaan hosts Staples during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan hosts Staples during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 27 of 33
New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) attempts a shot as Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) and Madeline Schemel (22) defend during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Colette Pellegrini (14) attempts a shot as Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) and Madeline Schemel (22) defend during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 28 of 33
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) takes a shot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Courtney Rogers (21) takes a shot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 29 of 33
New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) takes a shot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
New Canaan's Brianna McEwan (20) takes a shot during the girls basketball game against Staples at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 30 of 33
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 31 of 33
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Erica Stein (34) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 32 of 33
Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) controls the ball during the girls basketball game against New Canaan at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen
Image 33 of 33
Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) goes up for a shot as New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Staples' Nikki Bukovsky (22) goes up for a shot as New Canaan's Kelly Armstrong (25) defends during the girls basketball game at New Canaan High School on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.
Photo: Amy Mortensen

NEW CANAAN -- Staples High girls basketball coach Ed Huydic has been waiting all season for his team to make its run on offense.

The Wreckers, however, seem to be stuck in neutral.

Unable to find any rhythm on offense Friday, the Wreckers were held to just eight field goals and suffered a 26-23 loss to New Canaan.

"We kept looking for one spark, one spark," Huydic said, "and never got it."

New Canaan (6-7) had its own struggles on offense, hitting only 10 shots, but fended off its equally cold-shooting opponent. The Rams led 23-18 after three quarters and scored only three points in the fourth.

Rams senior forward Kelly Armstrong led all scorers with 10 points.

"Usually defense brings the offense, but this time it just didn't really happen," Armstrong said. "The shots weren't really dropping, we couldn't get open."

Staples had an opportunity to tie trailing 25-23 with 30 seconds left, as guard Allison April stole an inbounds pass. But on the Wreckers' ensuing offensive possession, Nikki Bukovksy's shot rimmed out with 12 seconds left.

After forward Colette Pellegrini connected on the front end of a 1-and-1 at the charity stripe, putting New Canaan up three with eight seconds left, she missed the second free throw. Armstrong, however, snagged the offensive rebound.

"Offensively it was a struggle for both teams tonight, but the girls fought hard," said New Canaan coach Kim Palmer, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak.

With the Rams playing a man defense throughout the evening, Staples got plenty of clean looks at the basket, but failed to find consistent scoring. The Wreckers were held to just 13 points in the second half on four field goals.

Bukovsky and forward Madeline Schemel scored eight points apiece to lead Staples (4-8), which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

"You can't make eight field goals in girls basketball and have 51 shots," Huydic said. "I'd have to say, out of those 51, maybe two or three were actually forced."

New Canaan took its largest lead of the game, 18-12, midway through the third quarter, but Staples responded with a 6-0 spurt to tie it. Following a pair of free throws by Bukovsky to make it 18-18, the Rams went on a 5-0 run to close the quarter. Senior guard Brianna McEwan hit a 3-pointer to make it 21-18, and Armstrong followed with a layup off an offensive rebound.

For a team that struggled all evening to muster together offense, the five-point deficit loomed large for Staples.

"Those were huge points," Huydic said. "Very big points as the game turns out. That's the way the game goes. Unfortunately this crew has not been blessed with self-manufactured breaks that work."

Staples was held scoreless for the first 6:13, notching its first points on a bucket by Schemel to cut New Canaan's lead to 3-2. The Rams led 6-5 after one quarter.

dbonjour@scni.com; 203-255-4561 ext. 114; twitter.com/DougBonjour

NEW CANAAN 26, STAPLES 23

STAPLES (4-8)

Margaret Fair 0 0-0 0 Allison April 1 1-2 3 Fallon Battone 0 0-0 0 Abigail Lustig 1 1-2 3 Dayna Gelman 0 0-0 0 Madeline Schemel 4 0-2 8 Nicole Bukovsky 2 4-6 8 Sophie deBruijn 0 0-0 0 Erica Stein 0 1-2 1. Totals 8 7-14 23.

NEW CANAAN (6-7)

Marina Braccio 0 0-0 0 Elizabeth Miller 1 0-0 3 Colette Pellegrini 0 1-2 1 Lindsay Seelert 0 0-0 0 Brianna McEwan 2 0-0 6 Courtney Rogers 1 0-0 3 Page Jones 0 0-0 0 Georgia Hunsinger 1 1-2 3 Ali Reilly 0 0-0 0 Kelly Armstrong 5 0-1 10 Devin Selvala 0 0-0 0 Meghan Selvaggi 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 2-5 26.

STAPLES 5 5 8 5 -- 23

NEW CANAAN 6 7 10 3 -- 26

3-pointers: NC --McEwan 2, Miller, Rogers.