SHEPAUG — On Jan.3, both Nonnewaug basketball teams faced rival Shepaug teams at the home of the Spartans. The night ended in two losses for Nonnewaug: 30-29 for the girls, and 83-52 for the boys.
“I was pretty confident in me and in my team,” Elliana Obolewicz, a Nonnewaug sophomore girls basketball player said. “We were all really excited because of the atmosphere that always comes with playing against Shepaug, and we had a strong mindset and gave it all we had.”
Despite Obolewicz’s mentality, and the team’s perseverance, the girls suffered a one point loss.
“I was shocked by the loss, and it didn’t really hit me at first,” Obolewicz said. “I think there was a lot of reasons why, like some varsity players being injured, but it’s definitely a rebuilding year this year for our team. Losing leadership from the upperclassmen made a gap that we’re still trying to recover from.”
Nonnewaug boys basketball is facing similar challenges, but junior point guard Brady Herman, like Obolewicz, kept a good mindset going into the game.
“I was thinking stay positive,” Herman said. “‘We have some new guys in the line up, and make sure that they have some confidence.”
Herman talks about some setbacks that ultimately decided the score.
“We didn’t have as much chemistry coming into the game,” Herman said. “I’ve been playing with Linc and Shup for the past couple years, since middle school, and I haven’t really played as much with Max and the younger guys.
“Next Shepaug game we got a healthy squad, everyone should be back, and our bench should be a little deeper,” Herman continues. “We’re winning next game.”
