Wreckers Tame Tigers In Ridgefield Regular Season Finale
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
In the last game of the regular season Wednesday night in Ridgefield, the #2 ranked Staples Wreckers faced #1 Ranked Ridgefield. In what was expected to be a tough contest, the Wreckers need to bring their "A Game". They did just that. Staples won the opening tip-off, scored the first basket, and never looked back. The led from buzzer to buzzer, defeating Ridgefield by the score of 81-69.
The Wreckers starting five were introduced, psyched to take on #1, followed by a Ridgefield student singing an outstanding rendition of the National Anthem.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A minute and a half in saw the Wreckers score 4 quick points, followed by Dhilan Lowman draining one of his 6 three-point baskets, on his way to a 20 point game. Ridgefield called a 30 second timeout after the 3 pointer apparently concerned with stopping the Wrecker momentum. It did not. Ridgefield cut the lead to 4 points with a minute left in the first quarter, but Staples held the ball until the final 3 seconds when they found the net from beyond the arc to end the period with a 5 point advantage.
Ridgefield closed the gap to 3 points early in the second quarter however the Wreckers went into the locker room with an 7 point advantage, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Lowman. The game was physical and intense. Above: (bottom right), the Staples bench rises to their feet after one of Lowman’s 3-pointers finds it’s mark.
The fourth quarter was no better for the Tigers as in the final 3 minutes they tried fouling at every turn in, trying to cut the lead, however it was to no avail. In addition to Lowman's streak of 3-pointers which was a career high, player of the game Mason Tobias shot a blistering 80% from the field on 10 attempts, scoring 21 points and scooped up 8 rebounds.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, right, Staples fans take to their feet in the final minute cheering as the Wreckers take the big victory.
With the regular season concluded, Staples, with a record of 13-2 in the FCIAC and 17-4 overall will open the FCIAC tournament quarter finals on Saturday, seeded #2 behind #1 Ridgefield. They will face #7 Wilton, 8-7 in conference at 2:00PM at Fairfield Warde High School. A victory in Fairfield will take the Wreckers to the semi-finals on Monday at either 5:30 or 7:30PM at Wilton High.
The Wreckers are ranked #4 in CIAC Division 1 and will face some serious competition when the state tournament begins.