— The Kennedy boys basketball team was just looking for that winning feeling in Friday night’s road game against Woodland Regional in Beacon Falls.
That’s what three straight losses and a 2-6 overall record will do to you. The Eagles saw their double-digit second half lead trimmed to eight in the fourth quarter, but they were able to put away the Hawks, 74-62. Kennedy improved to 3-6 with the victory.
The Eagles began to run away with the game when Kayven Zielinski snatched an offensive rebound and scored to put his team ahead, 58-48. Sean Brissett went all the way on a fast break for a layup and a 60-48 advantage, which brought a Woodland timeout with 4:32 to play.
The Hawks got the deficit back under single digits a few times, but the Eagles responded each time. After a Woodland 3-pointer, Synciere Dozier scored off an isolation play for a 62-51 lead. After the Hawks connected on a pair of free throws, Manny Escobales responded with a fast break layup to put the Eagles up, 64-53. Woodland struck for a three-point play with 2:05 on the clock to get within eight points, but Jaquane Jones (team-high 25 points) drove into the lane and dished to Dozier (15 points) for a layup and a 66-56 lead. Brissett contributed 11 points, Zielinski added eight points, and Escobales chipped in seven.
Photo caption: Synciere Dozier passes to a cutting Jaquane Jones during Friday night’s Kennedy win. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
— The St. Paul boys basketball team used good defense and an opportunistic transition game to claim a 6-0 lead just over three minutes into its game at Ansonia. The Falcons led, 8-5, after one quarter, but mistakes hurt the visitors over the next two quarters. St. Paul went on to lose the game, 57-46, and fell to 3-5.
The Falcons built a 15-7 lead in the second quarter, only to be outscored 14-6 by the Chargers to go into halftime tied, 21-21. St. Paul had the lead and the ball in the final 30 seconds of the second quarter, but a steal and layup tied the game at 21.
In the third quarter, the Chargers outscored the Falcons, 17-6. Ansonia forced turnovers and got out in transition. The Chargers also got some good three-point shooting, along with some strong play in the paint, and took control of the game.
It’s been an up-and-down season for St. Paul, and that was illustrated well by this past week. The Falcons lost, 67-49, at Naugatuck on Monday. The Greyhounds are one of the top teams in the NVL this season.
On Wednesday, St. Paul responded with a 64-39 pounding of Watertown inside the friendly confines of the Rev. Brian W. Monnerat Gymnasium. Will Barton (20 points) and Noah Waters (18) led the offensive attack against the Indians. Barton canned four 3-pointers while Waters made three from behind the arc.
Then there was Friday at Ansonia. Barton was again the leading scorer, but was also the only Falcon in double figures with 10 points. Tommy Lorenzetti and Alex Partyka had nine points apiece.
Photo caption: Noah Waters pulls in a rebound for St. Paul during Friday night’s loss. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
Up next
Kennedy: Tuesday at Kaynor Tech, 7; Wednesday at Sacred Heart, 7; Friday vs. Watertown, 7
St. Paul: Wednesday vs. Wolcott, 7; Friday vs. WCA, 7
