Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci wins NBA title
NAUGATUCK — Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home won the Naugatuck Basketball Association championship after defeating Alderson Funeral Home in a best-of-three series.
Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci clinched the title April 12 after winning game three of the series, 52-51, in overtime.
Alderson held a 43-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci battled back to take a three-point lead, 49-46, with 58 seconds left in the quarter. Alderson’s Rockeim Dukes hit a game-tying, three-pointer with 18 seconds to go in regulation.
In overtime, Jake Niedziela gave Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci a 51-49 and Chris Worgan added a free throw to extend the lead 52-49 with 58 seconds left.
Nick Soucy cut the lead to 52-51 with 9 seconds left. After a turnover by Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci, Alderson had the ball under its own basket with 5.8 seconds to go. Alderson’s last-second shot was off the mark.
Alderson opened the series with a 59-47 win in game one. Aaron Manouuse had 20 points and Maleek Brooks added 12 for Alderson. Dave Koskosky led Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci with 11.
Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci won game two, 53-40, as Jake Niedziela scored 20, Dave Roskosky added 12 and Spencer Dreher had 10 points. Alderson was led by Rockeim Dukes with 15 points.
Niedziela was named the Justin Kane Memorial Most Valuable Player award winner for the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci. Brooks received the runners-up Justin Kane Memorial Most Valuable Player award.
Dietz named to All-Academic team
KEENE, N.H. — Eric Dietz of Prospect was named to the Little East Conference’s 2014-15 winter All-Academic team.
Dietz is a member of track and field team at Keene State College. To be named a Winter All-Academic awardee, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher through the 2014 fall semester and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. The student-athlete must also be a full-time member of a varsity sport and be enrolled in the institution for a full academic year.
Wilde named Women’s Diver of the Year
WALTHAM, Mass. — Bentley University senior Paige Wilde of Naugatuck has been named the Women’s Diver of the Year in the Northeast-10 Conference.
Wilde, the only NE-10 woman to compete in the NCAA Division II pre-qualification meet, swept the women’s diving events during the Northeast-10 championships in February. She received NE-10 Women’s Diver of the Week honors eight times and was the NE-10 Women’s Diver of the Meet at the championships.
Cheerleading coaches sought for Pop Warner
NAUGATUCK — Naugatuck Pop Warner is seeking volunteers to head coach a cheerleading team.
The season runs from Aug. 1 to Dec. 13. Anyone interested in coaching, can email cheer@naugatuckhounds.com or call (203) 231-7478 for more information.
