The Wilby boys’ basketball team is having a season not seen on Bucks Hill Road since 2015-16.
That was the last time the Wildcats had a winning record. It was also the last time they made the state tournament. That Wilby team finished 16-8.
This year’s Wildcats, a blend of returnees and three key transfers from Crosby, sits at 11-2 entering Friday night’s game at Holy Cross. Wilby is 9-2 in the NVL with losses to Crosby and WCA.
The Wildcats added junior transfers Brandon Beamon, D.J. Melendez and Khani Glenn to a team that already had senior Aaron James, along with juniors Juny Gerena and Elijah Steward.Wilby has played an aggressive style both defensively and offensively, using a trapping defense to turn opponents over and gain easy opportunities in transition. The Wildcats can attack the basket, pull up in the lane or can 3-pointers to put points on the board in their halfcourt offense.
All of those intangibles have helped guarantee Wilby its first winning season since 2015-16. The Wildcats went 14-6 during the regular season, and they are just three wins away from equalling that total in this campaign.
Caption: The Wilby defense swarms around a Kennedy player during a Wildcat victory earlier this season. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
