I took in a half each of two different Waterbury boys basketball games on Friday night, and here are some observations.
Sacred Heart 90, Wilby 74: The first game was between the Hearts and the Wildcats at Alumni Hall on Grand Street. In the first quarter, Wilby came ready to play while Sacred Heart looked like it hadn’t played a game since before Christmas (their most recent game was Dec. 23). The Hearts trailed 5-0 and 10-4 before rallying for a 17-15 lead after one quarter.
The second quarter brought out the athletic, more aggressive version of Sacred Heart, and it overwhelmed Wilby. Lorenzo Washington led the show for the Hearts from the point, affecting the game with his scoring, passing, rebounding and tenacious defense. Connor Tierney posted a double-double and influenced a bevy of shots that were close to the basket with his seven-foot frame. Trevahn Duncan got loose for some baskets, as did Steve Alseph. After Tierney faked and hit a shot from the top of the key at the second quarter buzzer, Sacred Heart led, 44-27.
Wilby did show the willingness to get down the court quickly in transition, and it also showed a determination to get to the basket. After the Hearts turned up their defense, those opportunities were more limited. Jeremiah Tripp and Jonathan Matias led the attack for the Wildcats.
Crosby 63, Waterbury Career Academy 61: The score when I arrived at this game gave no indication of the thriller that it would become. The Bulldogs led the sluggish Spartans by 14 at the half, 37-23.
Crosby continued to lead into the third quarter behind its two-headed backcourt of Justin Davis and Jonathan Rivera. WCA got hot from the outside, however, with Jaden Stallworth, Lawrence Lazaro and Zion Lott taking turns launching bombs from the perimeter. The Spartans eventually cut the Bulldog lead to a single point, 55-54, in the fourth quarter.
Crosby freshman Jason Robinson took what was an ill-advised three-point shot with the same score and the clock winding down to one minute left, but the attempt hit nothing but net for a 58-54 advantage. Being just a freshman, Robinson may not have realized the magnitude of the situation when he stepped into his shot. WCA got the deficit down to 58-56, but Davis went to work at the foul line and put the game on ice.
For Crosby, some bad decisions late in the game could have led to a loss, but unlike defeats to Newtown and East Hartford, the Bulldogs were able to pull this game out. For WCA, it came down to a lack of execution, be it via rushed shots or turnovers. It is of course still very early in the season. The Bulldogs played in just their fifth game and improved to 3-2 while the Spartans completed their fourth game and dropped to 2-2.
Davis continues to be the engine that drives Crosby. Getting Rivera back from injury helps alleviate some pressure on Davis. The Bulldogs need to get their guards help with more production inside, but Alex Batista did make a big play when he dove on the floor for a ball and called timeout with 1:14 to play and his team nursing the 55-54 lead.
WCA goes as far as its guards take it, and they have four good ones in Jonathan Edwards, Lott, Lazaro and Stallworth. If the Spartans can improve their decision-making, they will be a terror for their upcoming opponents to deal with.
For my video highlights, along with my stories from the Crosby-WCA game, check out The Hoop Zone.
Photo captions: (Top) Crosby and WCA players keep their eyes on a possible rebound off a second half free throw. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
(Middle) Steve Alseph goes hard to the basket for Sacred Heart against Wilby. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
Galleries
Here are my photos from the Sacred Heart-Wilby game.
Here are my photos from the Crosby-WCA game.
