JV Owls Eke Out Gutsy Win Versus Pine Point to Open Season

After three weeks of practices, the JV Boys Basketball Team seized the opportunity to showcase their gritty and tenacious style of play in a hard fought home opener against a strong squad from Pine Point. Clearly, the trip down I-95 from Stonington didn’t phase the boys from Pine Point  as they zipped out of the gates taking a 14-6 lead after the first quarter. Nevertheless, the young Owls responded by locking things down on the defensive end, shutting out the oversized team of 5th, 6th and 7th Graders. “To hold a team that experienced and aggressive scoreless over 8 minutes is really outstanding,” Coach McDonough noted after the game. “I mean, to be down 8 and respond in that manner…you literally can’t do any better than that on defense.” With the home crowd back in it after the sluggish start, Country took a defiant 15-14 lead into the half behind 7 points from Jace Coassin and 4 points each from Will Pappas and Jonah McDonough. Still, if the Owls were to stave off a second-half comeback, it would be the all-around defensive effort up and down the lineup that would notch a mark in the victory column.

Lucky for defensive mastermind Coach Whiteman, the team got just that with jump balls, dives to the hardwood, and aggressive steals from bench players and starters alike. Two quick baskets by Pine Point extended their lead to three, but that was as far as it would go as deft point guard play from 6th Graders Oliver Milligan and Nathaniel Schultz enabled each of them to break loose for a basket off the great passing and screening from their teammates. Coassin added another 4 points in the quarter and great post defense from Levi Aronson, Will Cornell and Matthew Perrotti kept Pine Point at bay  and just like that, the table was set for the final frame with TCS leading 23-20. 

In the 4th quarter defense prevailed again with steals and loose balls dictating a frenetic pace for both teams. This time, it was the blitzing of ball handlers by Kieran Freeman, Henry Laurans and Griffin Lariviere that caused a headache for Pine Point. Still, with the experienced Pine Point 7th Graders unwilling to concede the game, things wouldn’t be decided until the final two minutes. As the clock ticked down and the defense kept the pressure on, two more backcourt steals led to breakaway layups for Coassin while clutch shots from both McDonough and Pappas iced the game for TCS. 

With the 31-26 comeback win, you can be sure both teams have already circled February 7th when the Owls head on the road for round two of this newfound rivalry in Stonington.