Results and scores are submitted by Wilton Youth sports teams. Please send all stories and updates, along with a photo to editor@goodmorningwilton.com by noon on Monday of each week. Stories received after the deadline may not be included. Results write-ups will be grouped by sport and published in the order they are received.
Wilton Basketball Association
Wilton 8th Grade Girls Notch Two Wins in Their Last Games of Youth Basketball
The Wilton 8th Grade girls basketball team (pictured above) came out strong with two wins against Norwalk and Bethel this weekend. Against Norwalk, starting was Maddie Dineen, Lauren Moe, Cali Hage, Molly Hancock and Anisa Burrows. At the end of the first quarter, with excellent defense by Kaitlyn Sullivan and Mary-Kate Doyle, the girls were up 9-7. In the second quarter, with great shooting was Ella Mulfinger and Emma Kelly. The score ending the second quarter was 18-16. Throughout the third quarter, Burrows and Hancock displayed excellent shooting, but the score ending the third quarter was 28-31. Dineen started in the fourth and made a three-pointer to take back the lead. With great communication throughout the fourth quarter, the girls were able to win the game with a final score of 49-46.
On Sunday Wilton played Bethel for the second time this season. Starting in the game was Ashleigh Masterson, Dineen, Doyle, Burrows and Hage. Sullivan and Moe had great defense and the Warriors were up 11-8 at the end of the first quarter. Despite good shooting from Kelly, they ended the second quarter down by one, 17-18. Wilton came out strong in the second half with the support of the Wilton High School varsity players as their cheerleaders. With great rebounding from Mulfinger, the girls were able to pull through and were up 29-21 at the end of the third quarter. With strong defense from Moe and Sullivan, the 8th grade girls won their last youth home game, 44-25.
Wilton 5th/6th Boys Fall to Westport 6c Boys, 37-52
Starting the game were Boden Davi, Liam Joy, Jack McMenamey, Laszlo Miller, and Blake Ongley. Miller put the first points on the board with a mid-range jumper. Davi was on fire, leading the stats with 12 points, including two free throws, along with numerous assists and steals, followed closely by Joy, with 10 points, numerous assists and steals, and excellent ball handling. Miller scored 8 points and 4 steals; Greg Boccino scored 2 points and moved the ball well. Nicholas Mercado had a crucial steal as well as a rebound, as well as overall excellent defense under the basket. Casey Meyer and Ongley also scored 2 points apiece, with Ongley getting 2 steals and a rebound. Matthew Fogarty had a rebound, and fine overall play. Meanwhile, Jack Mulfinger and Grant Stein, injured, were on the bench, cheering the team on. Despite great play all around, the Wilton boys were defeated 37-52.
8th Grade Boys Cap Off Youth Travel Basketball Careers with Tough, 4-Game Weekend
The Wilton 8th grade boys fought hard this weekend, playing a competitive, four-game schedule. The weekend kicked off with Friday night hoops at Middlebrook and a close loss to St. Teresa’s, 44-51. Max Jarvie led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Anderson Campbell, Declan Brokaw and Jack Minnich chipped in with 10, 6, and 5 points, respectively. Strong rebounding by Wyatt Jones, Brody Hess and Mike Meenan distributed the ball well against the quick St. Teresa’s squad. Kyle Roesser, Todd Woodring and Ethan Gallo’s strong rebounding and defensive efforts kept the game close until the end.
On Saturday, the 8th grade boys team traveled to Madison to face tough opponents, losing 44-61. After a slow start, Campbell put the team on the scoreboard with a layup, ending the first quarter 2-15. Hess played strong defense against this high scoring team, with Jarvie once again leading the way in scoring. Strong passing and rebounding from Minnich, Meenan, and Roesser kept the team in the game. Woodring, Gallo, and Jones also fought hard.
The schedule wrapped up on Sunday with two more home games at Middlebrook, both losses for this hard working team. In the morning, a game against Bridgeport’s Curiale Middle School resulted in a final score of 61-78, while the afternoon game against Bridgeport’s Sheehan Center ended with a 39-66 loss. Meenan led the way in scoring in both of Sunday’s games, with Roesser a close second. Campbell and Woodring contributed 9 and 5 points to the afternoon game.
The highlight of the weekend was Friday evening before the game with a celebration of the boys’ accomplishments playing Wilton travel basketball. Each player was announced by his coaches, Kevin Hand and Jack House, and given a small gift as a send off to high school. Best of luck to all these boys next year!
Wilton Hoops Boys 5th Grade Post Strong Showing vs. Harwinton, 36-11
The Wilton 5th Grade boys kept their season rolling this past Saturday, Feb. 8, traveling north for a convincing win away against the Harwinton 5th grade boys, 36-11. Wilton came out of the gates strong, going up 19-4 after the first quarter, and not allowing Harwinton a single point in the second quarter. The suffocating defense was matched by a balanced offensive outburst from the entire Wilton squad to close out the game.
The offensive balance was demonstrated by nine Wilton players registering points on the stat sheet. Jimmy Dineen (9 points), Jack Cunningham (7 points), Colton Smith (6 points), Gavin Toohill (6 points), Will Viggiano (6 points), and Mark Sylvester, Anthony Palumbo, Charlie Cretella and Charlie Heffernan (2 points each) led the charge. Dineen also distributed the ball effectively with 3 assists, as Sylvester and Cunningham each chipped in with 2 assists as well.
Defensively, the 5th grade boys were led by Jeff Fox (4 steals), Sylvester (4 steals) and Smith and Dineen (3 steals each). The Wilton boys were beasts on the boards led by Smith (14 Rebounds), Palumbo (5 Rebounds), and Dineen (3 rebounds). The team’s defensive play was the story of the game. Perhaps it was the hour-plus drive to Harwinton that put the 5th grade boys in such a stingy mood, but Harwinton had difficulty the entire game creating scoring opportunities. Wilton’s 1-3-1 half-court zone defense has proven to be suffocating all year, characterized by intensity, hustle and aggressiveness.
The Wilton boys continued their play this past weekend with a home game versus Shelton.