Wilton | McClelland Miscellanea

Category Archives: Wilton

December 30, 2015 · 11:38 pm

Seventeen point run earns Wilton 69-53 win over Kolbe Cathedral in tourney title game

Jack Williams (21 points) gets two during Wilton’s second-half, seventeen-point run.

Wilton (2015 Wounded Warriors Tournament champions)

Victor Billups (19 points) sees an opening

(Newtown CT) Wilton put a remarkable 4+ minutes stretch of basketball together in the second half and defeated Kolbe Cathedral, 69-53, on Wednesday night.

The victory gave the Warriors (3-1) the Wounded Warrior Tournament title for the second straight year.

The Wilton trio of Matt Kronenberg (19 points/8 rebounds), Jack Williams (21 points/5 steals), and Drew Connolly (18 points/5 assists) had extremely productive nights for the winners.

The Cougars (1-3) had an eight-point lead (38-29) two minutes into the second half and looked to be in control. They pressed. They ran and, most important, took the ball to the basket. The size and quickness of the team from Bridgeport was noticeable.

The Wilton defense toughened in the second half

But over the next four third-quarter minutes Wilton made shots, extended their trapping zone, and kept KC away from lanes to the basket.

Kolbe, however, still had a five-point lead (40-35) after Victor Billups rebound basket and the teams were tied at 43-43 after the Cougar’s Tahj Brown drained a three-pointer with 2:18 to go in the third quarter.

But the next 4:45, extending into the 4^th quarter, were all Wilton as they put a streak of seventeen unanswered points together and overwhelmed Kolbe Cathedral on both ends of the court. The Warriors highlight-reel stretch put them safely ahead 60-43 with 5 ½ minutes left.

Wilton jumped off to a 9-0 lead at the start before the Cougars closed the quarter on a 12-2 run. Marvens Francois (13 points) and Victor Billups (19 points) paced KC during the comeback.

Drew Connolly (18 points) tries to pass out of a Kolbe Cathedral trap

When either team was on their game their trapping was very effective. Dribbling into any corner was inviting disaster.

Jack Williams, Matt Kronenberg, and Marvens Francois were selected to the All-Tourney team.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Matt Kronenberg (19 points) defended by Charles Mitchell

Taking a charge.

Jack Wood defends Amari Courtney

Battle in close

Mine!

Marvens Francois

Jack Williams tries to get past Anthony Senior

Game on!

Jack Williams (21 points) in for two of them

Drew Connolly

Looking for a rebound.

Late-game work on Matt Kronenberg’s knee

Wilton rallies to defeat University 69-64 to win Hoops for Heroes Tournament

Wilton team poses after winning Hoops for Heroes Tournament

Micheal Gilliam (31 points) shoots from the corner

(Newtown CT) Wilton finished strong to defeat University, 69-64, and take the Hoops for Heroes Tournament on Monday night at Newtown High School.

The Warriors (3-1) trailed by as many as thirteen points (in the first half) but finally caught the Hawks early in the final quarter.

Layups by Eric Houska (20 points) and Matt Shifrin (23 points) plus a converted rebound from Peter Ciaccio (11 points/10 rebounds) gave Wilton a five-point lead (58-53) with five minutes left.

The Warriors notched eleven free throws the rest of the way, including five straight at the end, to hold off University in the closing minutes.

The Hawks (3-1) from Hartford dominated the early going using four Wilton turnovers to run off to an 11-3 margin in the first three minutes.

Senior Micheal Gilliam (31 points) had an enormous first half getting eighteen points from both long range and on breaks.

University led, 36-28, at the half.

Jaqhawn Walters blocks the shot of Eric Houska

The Hawks were still comfortable (42-32) 1 1/2 minutes into the third quarter. However, the rest of the way the Warriors were fifteen points better than the Hawks.

Wilton did it from long range (three 3’s) as well as from in close. They took the ball at the foul-plagued Hawks and made free throws in crunch time.

University (15-8 last year) cooled off considerably, although Micheal Gilliam made several 3’s in the final minutes to keep the Hawks within one possession a number of times. But Wilton made their free throws and held on for the win.

Wilton (16-9 last year) was able to hang around in the first half thanks to five three’s.

Matt Shifrin and Eric Houska made the All-Tourney team for Wilton. Micheal Gilliam was honored for University.

Matt Shifrin (23 points) lines up a free throw in the last minute

University’s Jaqhawn Walters had a double/double (15 points/14 rebounds) in the Hawks, 63-50, win over Kolbe Cathedral in the opening round.

Junior Will Hardie had eleven points for University against Wilton.

My stats for Micheal Gilliam, Will Hardie, Eric Houska, and Matt Shifrin disagree with the University scorebook but I’ll take my chances on mine being right.

Wilton box

University box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)