WOODBURYー The Nonnewaug boys basketball team faced a real challenge Jan. 27 against two-time defending Naugatuck Valley League champion Waterbury Career Academy. The Chiefs knew it would be a test that required their best effort, and despite a fourth-quarter surge, Nonnewaug lost, 70-55.
Junior Brady Herman saw the competition the Chiefs had to face but knew if the team could step it up, there would be a chance.
“Coming into the game, we knew it was going to be tough,” said Herman. “After having a horrible first half being down by more than 30, we knew we had to step up and at least finish the game stronger than how we started, which we wound up doing mainly in the fourth due to the great defense from my fellow teammates like Linc [Lincoln Nichols] and Jack [Nettleton].”
Every player knew the challenge they had to face. Senior Matthew Shupenis said it was an uphill climb knowing one of Nonnewaug’s starters, junior Robert Metcalfe, was out.
“One of our starters was sick with the flu, so playing without a starter was going to be tough,” said Shupenis. “We definitely thought we could compete with them, but after 16 minutes, we were shocked. After the initial shock, JV players like Max Nichols and Mikey [Platt] were able to give us a spark in the second half that gave us a chance to come back. I feel like this game really describes our season, guys being out and relying on others to step up and try to bring that spark into the game.”
Thomas Lengyel, a senior, saw a challenge when going up against such a put-together team. WCA led 45-13 at halftime before the Chiefs’ 31-12 fourth quarter tightened up the final score.
“Being somewhat recent state champs and back-to-back NVL champions, we knew we didn’t have an easy game,” said Lengyel. “We started off strong in the first minute or two, and then everything went wrong. Although we were down a lot at halftime, we didn’t want to go out without a fight, so we played well in the fourth and cut down the lead to 15 points.”
Business teacher Adam Lengyel, who ran the scoreboard for the night, was caught off guard by the Chiefs’ slow start, but by the time the team got it together it was too late.
“In the third quarter, end of the third quarter, they kind of woke up,” said Adam Lengyel. “We started playing better and were able to close the lead a little bit, but it was too late for them to get back in the game. They just didn’t play well at the beginning and it kind of put them in a hole where they couldn’t come back. It wasn’t enough time for them to come back to win the game.”
Nonnewaug improved to 10-4 on the season with a win over Lakeview on Jan. 29. The Chiefs will host Northwestern on Jan. 31.