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01/04/2019 11:00 PMThe North Haven boys’ basketball team won the third annual Fred Kelly Holiday Tournament by rallying for a 69-65 double overtime victory against Platt in the championship game at North Haven High School on Dec. 28. Senior RJ Hager scored 27 points for the Indians, including 25 after halftime, to help them come away with the dramatic win. The victory marked the second of the season for North Haven, which took a defeat against Cross later in the week to move to 2-3 on the year.
North Haven had advanced to the final of the tournament by defeating Branford 59-46 in the semifinals on Dec. 27. In the title game, Platt grabbed a 16-5 lead after the first quarter and held a 33-19 advantage over the Indians at halftime. North Haven started mounting its comeback by outscoring the Panthers 16-12 in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 10 entering the fourth. The Indians continued their push in the final frame, cutting the lead to 54-51 with 1:30 remaining. Hager hit a few free throws down the stretch to tie it up and send the game to overtime.
Senior Mike Collins hit a shot to give North Haven a two-point lead early in overtime, but Platt made a basket in the final seconds to tie it at 55-55, sending the game to a second OT. In second overtime, the Indians outscored Platt 12-8, led by a slew of free throws from Hager, who hit seven field goals and went 11-of-14 from the foul line in the game en route to his 27-point performance. Junior Dave Christoforo scored 18 points for North Haven, while Collins added 17 points in the victory. Platt had made the final by posting a 57-54 victory against Morgan in its semifinal contest on Dec. 27.
“Our kids showed heart. They fought back and grinded in the second half,” Head Coach Justin Falcon said. “They learned a little bit about themselves that night. That’s a good Platt team with great athletes.”
In North Haven’s semifinal triumph versus Branford, the Indians led 15-9 after the first quarter and were up 28-23 at the half. North Haven outscored Branford 18-15 in the third quarter to take a 46-38 advantage into the final frame. The Indians won the fourth quarter 18-8 to solidify their first win of the year. Collins scored 20 points to lead North Haven. Hager had 14 points, while Christoforo and fellow junior Jaden Watson both scored nine points for Coach Falcon’s squad.
On Jan. 4, North Haven took an 81-45 home defeat against Cross in its SCC Housatonic Division opener. The Governors jumped out to a 19-14 lead following the first quarter and were up 37-19 at halftime against the Indians. Hager and Christforo both scored 11 points for North Haven. Collins had seven points, junior Bryce Charney scored six points, and senior Josh Monk added five points for the Indians.