Boys Varsity vs Valley

On Friday the 19th, the boys travelled to the 7-11 Warriors of Valley Regional in Deep River, a place where they have not had much success recently. Things turned out better this time, and in a heart-pounding fashion.

The Warriors jumped out on top, leading 13-7 after one period, but the Devils came back in the second frame to knot the score at 20 all.

Valley crept ahead by a 24-22 count early in the second half, but Coginchaug held them scoreless for the next five minutes, moving to a 29-24 lead with baskets by Jack Murphy, Judson and Powers with two minutes left in the period. The home team did get the final three points of the third to trail 27-29 entering the final frame, and pushed ahead by a 36-35 count with four minutes left in the game. That was the last scoring Valley would achieve, but the game remained in doubt until the final seconds.

Jack Murphy scored on a rebound put-back to finally put Coginchaug ahead, then Powers scored to make it a 39-36 game with Coginchaug on top. Valley missed a three, the Devils missed the front end of a one-and-one, and a Valley two was deflected out of bounds off Coginchaug to set up the key play of the game. With the Warriors inbounding under their own basket with a half minute to go, they tried to get the ball to a big man under the basket, but Powers darted in front of the inbounds pass from the left, and streaked down the left sideline, getting fouled at around the half-court mark. With the Devils in the bonus, Cam had a key one-and-one opportunity which he took full advantage of, hitting both ends, making it a five point lead. Valley had a couple of additional shots, but Wyskiel secured the rebound from the second, got it to Powers, who heaved the ball to Jack Murphy at the other end of the court, with no defenders in sight, who laid the ball in with only seconds remaining to secure the 43-36 victory.

Powers scored 15 points, adding three assists and two steals, one of those the key play of the game. Jack Murphy scored eight, adding seven rebounds, a block and a steal. Griffin Murphy scored five and grabbed five rebounds, also adding a steal. Judson scored seven points, with three assists and two rebounds. Kyle Wyskiel was the top rebounder with ten, adding four points. Sapia scored four points, also contributing an assist and a rebound. Hunter Jameson grabbed three rebounds.

Coginchaug is 12-6, 10-6 in the Shoreline conference, with a fifth seed sewed up in the SLC tournament, and the possibility still for a home game in the state class S tournament.