The Crosby boys basketball team appeared to be at a make-or-break point early in its season on the road at Seymour on Jan. 10.
The Bulldogs appeared headed for a second straight loss, but senior C.J. McRae buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the wing to give his team a stunning 62-61 win over the Wildcats.
Crosby lost a winnable game the next evening at home against Fitch-Groton, 80-74 in overtime, but assistant coach Larry DeVito said he thought the team had turned a corner when McRae sank his winner against Seymour.
DeVito’s comment rang true over the past week, when Crosby scored home wins over Kennedy, WCA and Wilby to get to 6-5 on the season. McRae was a constant in that stretch with 18, 13 and 21 points.
McRae has had a good amount of help from his teammates. Nevin Kinsey, Rayquan Anderson and Geremaiah Watson each scored 11 points in the Kennedy win while Casleem Washington tallied nine points and 11 rebounds. Anderson put up 18 points, seven boards, two steals and three blocks in the WCA win while Kinsey added 14 points. Washington recorded six points, eight rebounds and four steals.
In the Wilby win, Washington was again a “monster” (DeVito’s word) on the boards. Kinsey scored 12 points, Watson had 11, Anderson added 10 and Washington chipped in eight in another balanced effort.
Crosby looks to continue its turnaround Monday at home at 4:30 p.m. against Ansonia, conditions permitting, given the city will be digging out from a snowstorm. Friday brings a rematch against Torrington, also at home, at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs lost to the Raiders, 73-63, in Torrington on Jan. 7. That was three days before McRae’s winner against Seymour.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Friday night’s game.
