NAUGATUCK — The Greyhounds entered last Friday’s game versus Woodland looking for their first three-game win streak of the season, while the Hawks sought to keep the momentum going from their first victory of the year.
The rematch played out differently from the first time the neighboring rivals met in early January, but the result was similar — a decisive 54-43 win for the Greyhounds.
Naugatuck head coach Mike Wilson credited the three-game spurt to following a philosophy of playing together and unselfishly.
“It was nice to see because it seemed like the ball moved around a little bit tonight,” said Wilson following the Woodland game.
The sledding was tough early on, as Naugatuck (7-9) and Woodland (1-13) traded baskets in a low-scoring first quarter. With time running out in the quarter, Naugatuck’s Jamar White drained a 3-pointer to give the Greyhounds an 8-6 lead.
The second quarter began much like the first until the Greyhounds took control late. With the score tied at 17 with four minutes until the half, Naugatuck rattled off 10 points — capped by a basket in the waning seconds by Corey Plasky — to take a 27-17 lead into the break.
“I thought we played a good first half,” Woodland head coach Tom Hunt said. “At the end of each quarter Naugatuck did a good job of getting good shots. … If those go different ways, you’re only chasing five (points) and it’s a whole different ballgame.”
Naugatuck pulled away in the second half, building the lead to as much as 20 early in the fourth quarter, to take the 11-point win.
When asked how the Greyhounds were able to pull away after a slow start to the game, Wilson deferred to assistant coach Marcus Melchionno. In one word Melchionno simply replied, “Energy.”
Plasky led the Greyhounds with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Jean Lukau-Mbalandaka and White added 10 and seven points, respectively.
“Corey took a good grip of the team tonight and he showed a lot of leadership. He set the tone for us,” Wilson said.
Dylan Sender led Woodland with 15 points, followed by Zack Bedryczuk with 13. The pair combined to hit on five 3-pointers for the Hawks.
Hunt said the coaching staff emphasizes playing a full 32 minutes. The Hawks did that against the Greyhounds, he said.
“We’re satisfied with the effort, just not the result tonight,” Hunt said.
The Hawks came into the game fresh off their first win of the season, a 65-54 victory Feb. 1 over Watertown. Bedryczuk had a game-high 25 points versus Watertown. Sender tacked on 16 points and Rich Rousseau added 10.
“These guys have been working hard all year, and to finally see the fruits of their work was nice,” Hunt said about breaking into the win column.
Naugatuck’s win streak included a 63-54 win over Ansonia on Feb. 1. The Greyhounds spread the ball around versus the Chargers. Josh McFarland led the way with 13 points. Shane Swierbitowicz (12 points), Lukau-Mbalandaka (11 points) and Plasky (10 points) reached double figures, as well.
The Greyhounds sought to make it four straight wins and clinch a state tournament berth when they traveled to Torrington on Monday night, but the Red Raiders rallied for a 72-66 overtime victory to win the Naugatuck Valley League Iron Division title.
Naugatuck built a 41-27 lead in the third quarter behind a 31-point night from Lukau-Mbalandaka, but Torrington battled back and held a three-point advantage late. With just over a minute to play, Lukau-Mbalandaka tied the game with a 3-pointer, one of five on the night for him, to send the affair into overtime.
The two teams matched baskets early in overtime, but the Raiders held Naugatuck scoreless over the final 1:45 to pull away for the win.
“(Torrington) made shots. We tip our hats to them,” Wilson told the Republican-American. “It wasn’t so much us making mistakes. We wanted this game. We were playing for a (chance at the) title, too.”
Naugatuck will take on perennial powerhouse Sacred Heart on Wednesday. The Greyhounds will host Watertown on Friday and visit Wolcott on Feb. 14.
The Hawks will be back on the court Friday at Torrington. Woodland will open next week with homes games versus Wolcott on Feb. 13 and Seymour on Feb. 14.
The Republican-American contributed to this story.
