Naugy ousts Middletown

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Naugatuck's Dayvon Russell (0) lays up a shot in front of Middletown's Tyshaun James (20) and Caylen Williams (4) during the Class L quarterfinal Monday at Middletown High School. Naugy won the game, 96-83. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Naugatuck’s Dayvon Russell (0) lays up a shot in front of Middletown’s Tyshaun James (20) and Caylen Williams (4) during the Class L quarterfinal Monday at Middletown High School. Naugy won the game, 96-83. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

MIDDLETOWN — It was a sold-out crowd Monday night as No. 7 Naugatuck took on No. 2 Middletown in the Class L quarterfinal before an estimated 1,200 fans. The word around the gym was over hundred fans weren’t allowed in, as the stands were filled to capacity.

Those who couldn’t get through the door missed an offensive exhibition by Naugatuck as the visiting Greyhounds upset Middletown, 96-83, and advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1974.

Naugy will play No. 3 Career (24-3) in the semifinal Wednesday at 7 p.m. at East Haven High School. The winner moves on to face either No. 9 Bassick or No. 5 Bunnell in the state title game this Sunday at Mohegan Sun.

The last time the Greyhounds (20-5) made it this deep in the tournament the Naugatuck High building on Rubber Avenue was just 15 years old.

Naugatuck seized control of the quarterfinal late in the third quarter on one of the biggest plays of the night. With 2:08 left in the third and the Greyhounds up by three, a lob pass from Jason Bradley found a soaring Jarron Chapman, who finished the play with a monstrous alley-oop dunk that brought the Naugy supporters to their feet.

The alley-oop is a play that the Greyhounds have tried often throughout the season, but have not had much success completing.

“We got one in the biggest moment,” head coach Mike Wilson exclaimed. “We ran the play right and Jason threw a great pass.”

Chapman’s dunk gave Naugy a 61-56 lead and sparked an 18-9 run for the ‘Hounds. By the time the run ended, Naugy led 77-65 with 4:51 remaining.

Naugy dominated the final three quarters, but they struggled in the first 7 minutes of the game and committed five quick turnovers. Middletown (23-4) took advantage of the miscues and held an 18-11 lead at one point. Middletown forward Ahmod Privott made two of his four three-pointers in the first.

But the ‘Hounds have shown throughout this tournament that it takes them just a little while to get going.

Naugy made three 3s at the end of the period, including one by Bradley and two by Dayvon Russell, one coming at the first quarter buzzer. Russell’s three tied the game at 24 and ignited a spectacular second quarter where the ‘Hounds outscored the Blue Dragons 25-17 to give them a 49-41 lead at the half.

Wilson, who made his third appearance in a state quarterfinal at Naugy (two as a player), said his team started off the game too nervous but was able to relax as the quarter went on.

“We just calmed down and played Naugatuck basketball,” Wilson said. “We stopped trying to be a hero and got into our sets.”

The Blue Dragons showed they would not go quietly and opened the second half on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 49-48. Despite the run, Naugy never lost the lead.

The Greyhounds successfully neutralized Privott in the second half, limiting him to just a free throw after a 16-point performance in the first half.

There was a bit of a reason to panic, however.

Towards the end of third quarter, Russell, who finished with 25 points, committed his fourth foul and sat until halfway through the fourth. Not any more than a minute later, Fejiro Onakpoma, Naugy’s big man, committed his third foul, so James Messidor subbed him out.

Russell said his team could do it without him, though.

“Everyone played great on the court,” said Russell regarding his team’s performance while he was on the bench. “I believe in my team.”

Naugatuck’s James Mesidor (42) goes up for shot as Wilton’s Michael Bingaman (20) defends March 12 during the second round of the Class L tournament in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won, 62-54. The Greyhounds followed up the win by beating Middletown Monday to advance to the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s James Mesidor (42) goes up for shot as Wilton’s Michael Bingaman (20) defends March 12 during the second round of the Class L tournament in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won, 62-54. The Greyhounds followed up the win by beating Middletown Monday to advance to the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

But the alley-oop to Chapman made every Naugy player and fan, especially the student section who trooped to the game, believe that a win was very much in sight.

The fourth quarter went Naugy’s way. Middletown struggled shooting and Naugy was making its free throws, especially Chapman, who struggled from the line through the first two games of the tournament.

“He (Chapman) just had no worries tonight,” Russell said “He just played his game.”

Chapman finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds, his second straight double-double. Messidor also almost had a double-double of his own with nine points and eight boards. Bradley finished with 16 points including going 3-of-4 from three-point range.

The Greyhounds reached the quarterfinal matchup after knocking off No. 10 Wilton, 62-54, March 12 in the second round. Naugy had four starters with 10 or more points in the game. C.J. Wall had 11, Russell and Bradley had 12 each, and Chapman threw in 19.

After narrowly defeating No. 26 Harding in the opening round, Wilson said the Greyhounds have gotten better through the tournament due to their level of poise.

“I feel like the guys’ confidence has just been growing as each quarter goes through this state tournament right now,” Wilson said.