Staples Wreckers Notch Big Win Against Strong Ridgefield Tigers Team With 61-54 Victory

Jan 7

Wreckers take the court again after a time out in their 61-54 Victory over Ridgefield on Friday Night
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Friday night, Staples Boys Basketball opened their FCIAC schedule by beating 4-time defending league champion Ridgefield on the Tigers home court, 61-54. Chris Zajac, the 6'8" senior co-captain led the way for the Wreckers with 17 points 14 rebounds. Zajac, number 12, was dominant on both ends of the court by both battling from the post and intimidating Tiger scoring attempts playing virtually the entire game. Senior guard co-captain Cody Sale proved difficult for Ridgefield defenders scoring 16 points including a perfect 7-7 from the foul line, guard Gavin Rothenberg, another Staples senior chipped in with 10 points.

The game was back and forth early with the teams tied at 11-11 at the end of the first quarter. Rothenberg hit a 3 pointer to give Staples a 16-13 lead early in the 2nd quarter, a lead they would not give up the rest of the night.

The Wreckers lead would be challenged when Ridgefield cut the lead to 47-45 midway through the 4th qtr, but Rothenberg hit another huge 3 point shot to push the lead to 5. After a defensive stop on a Tiger possession, Zajac found an open Adam Udell on the wing and he drained a 3 pointer to extend the lead to 8. The game was closer than the final score would indicate with Ridgefield fighting like the championship calibre team they are until the final buzzer sounded. Coach Goldshore was pleased with this "great team win" against what he said might be one of the best programs in the state, a "great team from top to bottom" and a "very well coached team".

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

This FCIAC season opener was the first conference game for the Wreckers new Head Coach Dave Goldshore, who took over the program after Staples long-time coach Colin Devine turned over the reins to Goldshore, his assistant for the last five years. Coach Goldshore was a 3-sport athlete and was a freshman at Michigan where he had a front row seat to top-tier Division One coaching when Michigan's "Fab Four" won the national championship.