NAUGATUCK — For the first time in the last 20 games, the Naugatuck boys basketball team defeated Crosby.
The Greyhounds pulled off the upset Dec. 30 with a 78-71 win over the then ninth-ranked team in the state. The game marked the home-opener for Naugatuck and the evening started with a rededication ceremony of the gymnasium in honor of the late Ed Mariano, a former state champion basketball player and coach from Naugy, who passed away last winter.
The Greyhounds got off to a good start and seized the momentum early. Naugatuck raced out to a 20-12 lead after the first quarter led by Crosby transfer Jarron Chapman, who scored 15 of the Greyhounds’ 20 points.
In the second quarter, however, Crosby came to life. The Bulldogs outscored the ‘Hounds by 13 to take a five point lead at halftime. The Greyhounds shot just three of 10 from the field, including missing all five shots from three-point range.
However, the Bulldogs showed their only sign of life in the second quarter. Naugy played a tremendous second half, in which they outscored the Bulldogs 47-35.
The Greyhounds got right back on track in the third quarter, making 10 of 16 shots and took a one-point lead into the fourth. The ‘Hounds never let up from there.
Chapman sealed the deal with a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and the ‘Hounds ended the game at the free throw line to win by seven.
Coach Mike Wilson was incredibly impressed with how each player accomplished their assigned role, and he points out that was the reason why they won the game.
“Everyone made a contribution,” said Wilson, who beat Crosby for the first time in his head coaching tenure at Naugy. “Jason (Bradley) was terrific, along with Dayvon (Rusell), Josh (Aviles), Kevin (Robinson), and Fijero (Onakpoma). Everyone came in and contributed.”
While Wilson knows the win was a great team effort, there is no doubting that Chapman was the star of the game against his former team. Wilson said that Chapman definitely had some extra motivation going into the game since he was going up against the team he started for his freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Chapman finished with 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting with six rebounds and six steals. Russell added 17, going nine of 12 from the free throw line, and Bradley finished with 10 points.
While Wilson is proud of his team’s upset, he is not yet ready to say that his team is for real as a legitimate contender in the NVL.
“It was a great win for us, but every game in the NVL is for real,” Wilson said. “We are only three games in, so we still have a long way to go.”
The Greyhounds followed up the win over Crosby with an 85-45 victory over Oxford Tuesday night to open the season 4-0. Chapman led the way again for the Greyhounds with 24 points and Russell added 19 against Oxford.
Naugatuck hits the road to play Holy Cross Friday and Bassick Monday before returning home Jan. 14 to host Seymour.
