The Staples Wreckers Boys Remain Undefeated With 62-48 Victory Over Ridgefield Tigers

Photos By J.C. Martin, Story by Jake Sullivan For WestportLocalPress.com

Last night marked a repeat showdown between the Staples Wreckers and the Ridgefield Tigers, who met in the FCIAC title game last year when Staples won 68-58. These two teams also met just one week prior, with Staples topping Ridgefield 67-49 in the last regular season game.

In front of a packed house at the beautiful Leo Mahoney arena on the campus of Fairfield University, the #1 seeded Wreckers, wearing home-whites, squared off against the #3 Tigers, donning their black away uniforms.

The Wreckers look confident as they enter the stadium followed by the playing of the National Anthem.

*The Wreckers huddle up just before they take the floor to defend their FCIAC Championship*

Photos By J.C. Martin, Story by Jake Sullivan For WestportLocalPress.com

To start off the game, junior Staples guard Austin Heyer ( 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist) drove baseline and scored a layup on the first possession of the game to break the ice. Ridgefield responded on their first offensive possession with a floater from junior guard Jayson Genova (27 points) that would be an early sign of things to come. After multiple possessions of excellent spacing, cutting, and sharing the basketball from the Wreckers, Ridgefield burned their first timeout down 8-3.

The Wreckers “6th Man” was in full force at the Mahoney Arena.

Staples would then extend their lead to 11-3 after senior Sam Clachko (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) rifled a pass from the left wing to the opposite corner to connect with junior Dhilan Lowman (7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist) for a three. The first quarter concluded with yet another Clachko layup to make the score 16-7.

Ridgefield started off the second quarter with 2 quick baskets, one by senior Jacob Hankla (3 points, 4 rebounds) and another by Genova. Staples responded with a nice drive and dish from Heyer to senior Mason Tobias (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists). A couple baskets by Tiger senior Jack Winstanley (10 points, 4 rebounds) and a very deep three by Genova made the score 22-18 Staples with under 3 minutes to go before the half.

Photos By J.C. Martin, Story by Jake Sullivan For WestportLocalPress.com

Staples would respond with 2 more quick layups by Heyer, and a fundamental pump-fake followed by a layup by Wrecker sophomore Henry Veissid (5 points, 1 assist). Genova would continue his individual tear in the second quarter by drilling this third three in row past the red college three-point line to make the score 27-25 in favor of Staples at the half.

Photos By J.C. Martin, Story by Jake Sullivan For WestportLocalPress.com

The second half got underway with a made free throw by Tobias and a layup on the other end by Winstanley. Staples senior Matty Corrigan (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) displayed his versatility in the third quarter, scoring 6 points in a row off of made free throws, a made three-pointer, and a strong contested layup in the paint. Genova then responded with an and-one layup to make the score 39-35 Staples with just over 3 minutes to go in the third quarter.

Staples responded with an impressive shot fake and dish at the last second of his jumpshot from Clachko to Tobias to make the score 43-39. Steals and layups from both Tobias and Clachko were then followed up by a pull-up made jumper by Genova to make the score 47-41 as the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the third quarter.

Ridgefield would draw first blood in the fourth quarter with a made free throw and three-pointer by Genova to make the score 47-45 with 6:30 left in the ball game. A layup by Clachko followed by an and-one from Corrigan gave the Wreckers some breathing room as Staples led 52-45 with 5:20 to go. After being able to eat some clock, Tobias drilled 2 free throws to make the score 56-48 with 1:52 left. 3 missed consecutive field goal attempts by Genova followed by a Heyer layup with 59 seconds to go to make the score 59-48 made the Staples faithful really start to feel it coming.

Photos By J.C. Martin, Story by Jake Sullivan For WestportLocalPress.com

Staples would not look back, capping of a 62-48 win to be the first FCIAC boys basketball team to repeat as FCIAC champions since Ridgefield, who won 4 in a row from 2019 to 2022. The Staples season is not over, as they now shift their focus to the division 1 state tournament as the #1 seed, squaring off against #16 Manchester on March 10 at 6:00 PM at Staples High School.