This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/01/2020 11:00 PMBoys’ Basketball
The Morgan boys’ basketball team closed out the regular season and subsequently started up its postseason run last week. The Huskies began the week with a win 76-71 overtime win against Old Saybrook, then took a 67-50 loss in the regular season finale against Old Lyme, and finally, defeated Hale-Ray, 82-73, in the Shoreline Conference Tournament quarterfinal. With these results, Morgan has an overall record of 14-7 on the season.
On Feb. 24, Morgan hosted Old Saybrook and defeated the Rams by a score of 76-71 in overtime. The Huskies doubled up the Rams with a 14-7 first quarter, and took a 31-23 advantage by the end of the first half. Morgan allowed Old Saybrook to creep back into the game, and after three quarters, The Huskies held just a 51-48 lead over the Rams. Old Saybrook forced an overtime period with 18-15 fourth quarter to tie the score at 66-all. Ultimately, Morgan outscored the Rams 10-5 in the final frame to earn the 76-71 victory.
Morgan saw a nice spread of scoring on the offensive end from several contributors. Jason Cohen had 16 points to his credit, while Zach Johnson and Rob Zirlis provided 15 points apiece. Alex Fratemico scored 14 points, and Connor Duffy supplied 12 points. Drew Nye scored 4 points.
Two days later, the Huskies hosted old Lyme and dropped a 67-50 decision in their final regular season contest. The Wildcats got out to a 22-12 lead after the first quarter, and expanded that advantage to 39-22 by the end of the half. That 17-point margin ended up sticking as both teams scored 28 points in the second half, and Old Lyme got the win.
Cohen led the Huskies in scoring again with 18 points, while Rob Zirlis added 12. Johnson (11), Fratemico (6), and Nye (3) all scored in the game as well.
On Feb. 29, Morgan entered the Shoreline Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed, and hosted No. 6 seed Hale-Ray in the quarterfinal round. The first quarter ended in a dead heat with each team scoring 19 points. Morgan soon pulled far ahead of the Noises with 34-12 second quarter to take a 53-27 edge into halftime. Hale-Ray outscored the Huskies 15-12 in the third quarter, and then really made a run with a 27-17 fourth quarter. Morgan ultimately held off the Noises for the 82-73 victory.
Johnson led the way with 27 points, while Cohen provided 17. Zirlis (14), Duffy (9), Nye (6), Fratamico (4), Gavin Krott (3), and Jon Fiorillo (2) all scored in the victory.
This week the Huskies battle No. 2 seed Valley Regional in Deep River on Tuesday, March 3 at 6 p.m. With a win, Morgan would face the winner of No. 1 seed Old Lyme versus No. 5 seed Cromwell on Thursday, March 5 at Polson Middle School in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final.
Wrestling
Louis Bradley and Ethan Reemsnyder represented the Morgan Wrestling team at the State Open Championship at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Feb. 28 and Feb. 29. The Huskies came in 70th place overall with five points to their credit.
Bradley competed in the 138-pound division and had a bye through the first round. Bradley earned a 9-2 victory by decision over Logan Kanaitis of RHAM in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Bradley lost a 3-2 decision to New Milford’s Khalil Bourjelli to get bumped out of the championship bracket.
In the consolation bracket, Bradley picked up a 6-0 win by decision over Xavier’s Giovanni Imme, but ultimately lost in the consolation round of four Devin Anderson of New Fairfield in a 4-3 decision.
Reemsnyder grappled in the 195-pound division, and was pinned at the 2:17 mark by Malachi Mercer of Fairfield Prep in the first round. Then in the consolation round, Reemsnyder lost by pin at the 2:30 mark to Jack Cunningham of Simsbury.