Looking for its first state title since 1987, the West Haven boys basketball team was right where it needed to be. With a double-digit lead in the second quarter, West Haven had second-seeded Windsor on the ropes.
Unfortunately for the Westies, the will of Windsor prevailed.
Going on a 16-0 run, Windsor topped No. 12 West Haven 59-57 in overtime in the Division II final Saturday evening at Mohegan Sun Arena.
In foul trouble, the Westies could not muster any offense in the third quarter after leading 37-23, and the Warriors rallied to take the lead.
The 16-0 run by Windsor produced a 39-37 lead, its first of the contest with six minutes remaining in regulation. Four more lead changes ensued before West Haven had another opportunity.
After West Haven failed in its final attempt of regulation to win the game, Windsor ran off the first seven points of overtime, before West Haven got going. The Westies rallied back, but a last second shot was denied as were West Haven’s championship hopes.
West Haven led 19-7 after one quarter and 28-22 at the half.
Aaron Johnson had 21 points and Bernett Scott added 15 points for West Haven, while Ethan Griffin scored 10, and Isaiah Jackson added nine.
West Haven opened the CIAC Division II state tournament in impressive fashion.
Led by Michael Singleton’s 24 points, No. 12 West Haven topped No. 21 Norwalk 75-49 in the opening round at West Haven High Monday evening.
With Norwalk still in the contest, Singleton continually came up with big shots, including a 3-pointer late in the first quarter for a 15-6 West Haven advantage. A dunk by Griffin with 50 seconds remaining in the quarter gave West Haven a 17-6 lead.
A pair of Singleton buckets opened the second quarter for a 21-8 West Haven advantage, before Scott and Singleton extended the West Haven lead to 25-10.
Griffin’s second dunk with 2:10 remaining in the half extended the margin to 32-17, before a 3-pointer by Loshon Roman gave West Haven a 35-20 lead at the half.
A 9-0 West Haven run on baskets by Singleton and Griffin, before a 3-pointer by Jackson and another basket by Singleton had West Haven on top 44-23. Singleton added seven more points in the third quarter to extend West Haven’s lead to 53-26.
While the Westies were solid offensively, they were just as good on defense, holding FCIAC Player of the Year Jaylen Brown to 17 points.
West Haven advanced to the Division II semifinals with a 63-62 quarterfinal victory over New Britain in the quarterfinals at New Britain.
In a thrilling contest, there were 16 lead changes, including six in the final eight minutes. It was the final minute which left those in the gym nervous throughout.
New Britain erased a nine-point West Haven lead to open the second half, but Scott gave the Westies a 59-58 lead with a 3-pointer, and Singleton drained four free throws for a 3-point lead in the final 15 seconds.
The Hurricanes got within one point with three seconds remaining, but the Westies ran out the clock without being fouled to secure the victory.
West Haven used an 8-4 run to close the first quarter, and four straight points by Jayce Perry gave the Westies an 18-15 lead.
The Westies then used a 9-2 run to take a 29-22 lead. A 3-pointer by the Westies gave them a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer by Singleton gave West Haven a 50-48 advantage.
West Haven will be playing for its first state championship game since 1987. Behind a 14-point game from Scott, and a physical defensive effort, the No. 12 Westies topped No. 8 Stamford 46-32 in the CIAC Division II semifinals at the University of Hartford’s Chase Family Arena.
West Haven will face second-seeded Windsor in the title game at Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend.
The Westies did not allow a single Stamford player to reach double digits in the scoring column. On the flip side, Griffin joined Scott with 10 points.
Leading 19-17 at the half, West Haven held Stamford to six points in the third quarter and extended its lead to 35-23.
After Stamford got on the board first to even the game in the third quarter, West Haven scored 16 of the next 20 points to take a 12-point lead.
A 9-1 fourth quarter run by Stamford cut West Haven’s lead to four, but the Westies closed the game with a 10-0 run of its own to return to its first state title game when West Haven defeated Hillhouse 37 years ago.
The Black Knights were just 4-of-11 from the free throw line, while West Haven connected on 14-of-21 shots from the free throw line. Singleton added nine points in the win for West Haven.
The season has come to a close for the West Haven boys hockey team. Despite a second seed in the state tournament, West Haven was forced to play an East Haven team which had 19 wins, but was forced to forfeit 14 of those due to an ineligible player.
East Haven proved to be too tough in defeating West Haven 6-1 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in the opening round of the Division II state tournament. Mike Madera continued his solid season, scoring the lone West Haven goal, while Javed Ullah made 23 saves in the loss.
Despite controlling the opening period and dominating with a 16-8 shot advantage, West Haven trailed 1-0 when John D’Albero scored a short-handed goal with 6:50 remaining in the period. D’Albero’s goal turned away what was a solid period for the Westies.
West Haven had its opportunities in the opening period, but Brady Price and Justin Bruno were turned aside 18 seconds apart. Madera was stopped off the right wing 30 seconds after the East Haven goal, Thomas Porto’s deflection was denied with 4:39 to go, and Madera was denied on a partial breakaway with 3:46 to go.
After West Haven saw opportunities by Madera, Marcus Burrows, and Bruno denied in first 3:08 of the second, East Haven scored the first of its three power play goals 4:15 in for a 2-0 lead.
Trailing 4-0, West Haven finally got on the board with 3:16 remaining in the middle period as Madera ripped a shot to the top corner for a power play goal off assists from Jayden Spreyer and Brody DiNuzzo.
Despite putting more pressure on in the third period, West Haven never got closer and saw a successful season come to an end.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.
windsor won and got less ink smfh