Naugy bows out of tourney

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Naugatuck’s Dayvon Russell led the Greyhounds with 17 points in the Class L state tournament opening round versus Career Magnet of New Haven Monday. Naugatuck lost the game 72-53. –FILE PHOTO
Naugatuck’s Dayvon Russell led the Greyhounds with 17 points in the Class L state tournament opening round versus Career Magnet of New Haven Monday. Naugatuck lost the game 72-53. –FILE PHOTO

NEW HAVEN — The Naugatuck boys basketball season came to an end on Monday in the first round of the Class L state tournament with a 72-53 loss to No. 2 seed Career Magnet of New Haven.

Dayvon Russell led the No. 31 Greyhounds (8-14) by pouring in 17 points with Jason Bradley knocking down four 3-pointers to contribute 14 points. Senior Ryne Griesenauer added 10 points to give the ‘Hounds three double-digit scorers.

Career was led by Jordan Lomax (11 points and 12 rebounds) and Amos Ford (11 points and nine rebounds). Tyreek Perkins, Tyrell Eaddy and Matt Hamilton all chipped in with eight points as Career opened up an 18-6 first-period lead and stretched the advantage to 42-20 at the half.

The Greyhounds, armed with just one senior in Griesenauer, made the most of an up-and-down season, qualifying for the Naugatuck Valley League and state tournaments. Along the way came season-defining wins over Wilby (57-53 in overtime) and Holy Cross (48-41) to put them in the postseason.

In the NVL tournament, the ‘Hounds showed they deserved to be there when they held a lead over NVL runnerup Sacred Heart for most of the game in a surprise showing before the Hearts escaped with the 53-48 victory.

The strength of the Greyhounds is in a junior class that grew in confidence during the year and gained postseason experience. Led by Dayvon Russell, Jason Bradley, C.J. Wall and Bryan Coney along with Maleek Brooks, Josh Aviles, Dashon Russell and Kevin Robinson, Naugatuck has all the tools in the shed to make a solid run next season to go along with productive sophomores Jordan Booker and Fejiro Onakpoma. 

Messages left with Naugatuck head coach Mike Wilson seeking comment were not returned as of this post.