BEACON FALLS — With a young and inexperienced team, the Woodland boys basketball is facing a series of challenges.
The team’s most recent four losses have all been tight games. The Hawks have lost at Wilby (by five) and at home to Derby (by two), Bethel (by four) and St. Paul (by five).
A string of close losses and postponed games have left the Woodland boys basketball team searching for its next victory. The Hawks are off to a 1-6 start.
“We’re taking these close losses as valuable learning experiences,” Woodland head coach Tom Hunt said.
Last season, the team recovered to finish 7-7 the rest of the way. This season’s start has been different in regards to the hurdles Woodland has to overcome.
The team graduated its all-time leading scorer, lost its big man Eric Beutel to injury earlier in the season and asked players to play new roles. The results have shown improvement, according to Hunt. Just not enough to close out games.
On Jan. 8, the Hawks dropped a 58-54 decision to Bethel. Austyn Brown had a game-high 18 points, Sam Merriman scored 11 points and Tyler Collodel added 10 points.
Two days earlier, the team lost a heartbreaker to Derby. Brown gave Woodland a one-point lead with 16 seconds left, and it came down to one final defensive stand.
The game plan was to double team Derby’s top playmaker, Erick Hicks, and deny him a shot at the hoop. It worked until the ball got to Faris Korenic, who hit his first three of the night at the buzzer to give Derby the last-second win.
“The kids are believing in what we’re saying and there’s been progress,” Hunt added.
The team’s two senior captains — Brown and Merriman — have made sacrifices and stepped up on offense.
Brown has made the transition from the point to shooting guard and leads the team in scoring. Merriman is now being counted on to take more shots.
“They’re keeping us in games,” Hunt said of the captains.
On Wednesday, Brown and Merriman one again led the way for Woodland in the loss to St. Paul. Brown scored a game-high 33 points, while Merriman added 11.
With a lack of size up front, younger players like sophomore Richard Rousseau, who had four points versus St. Paul, have stepped up and taken on increased playing time.
“No matter what the scoreboard says, they’re grabbing their lunch pails, working hard and playing 32 minutes of basketball,” Hunt said. “I can’t say enough about how hard this team is playing for the program.”
The Hawks will host a historic night on Friday. Woodland is hosting Ansonia at 7 p.m. and will honor the program’s all-time leading scorer.
The Hawks are scheduled to unveil a banner to honor Tanner Kingsley and his title as all-time leading scorer for the boys program. Perhaps not so ironically, Woodland will host the Chargers, who are coached by Shane Kingsley, former Hawks standout and Tanner’s brother.
