While the Newtown Youth Basketball Association was watching its five divisions tussle through a thrilling month of playoffs, the Bantam Boys were busy capturing the title at the Sal Tinari Basketball Tournament in East Haven.
While the Newtown Youth Basketball Association was watching its five divisions tussle through a thrilling month of playoffs, the Bantam Boys were busy capturing the title at the Sal Tinari Basketball Tournament in East Haven.
The tournament featured nine teams or fourth-grade players and was played over a two-week period from March 14-24.
Newtown defeated Madison, 34-8, in the tournament opener with a well-balanced team effort. Kevin Conte led the locals with eight points as Julian Dunn and Colton Smith each scored six points. Nick Roche had a good all around game with four points and three assists. Harry Dupuy had five rebounds with Michael Cirone and Logan Walsh chipping in three points each.
Newtown followed up with a 38-26 win over East Haven, using strong defense in the second half to pull away from the tournament favorite. Smith and Michael Parker led the defensive surge and broke the East Haven press with good ball handling and passing. Walsh led Newtown with seven points as Dupuy and Cirone scored four points apiece. Conte dragged down five tough rebounds.
The competition got even tougher as the locals outlasted Hamden Regional, 36-34, in overtime as Troy Frangione poured in 20 points, including the game winning three-point shot at the buzzer. Newtown was leading for most of the second half until Hamden hit two foul shots near the end of regulation to tie the game. The locals then missed a shot at the end of regulation to set up an unbelievable ending.
With only two seconds remaining and Hamden leading by one point, Connor Roche threw a 55-foot pass from out of bounds over midcourt that was tipped by a Hamden player into Frangioneâs hands who beat the buzzer with an amazing 30-foot shot to give Newtown the improbable overtime victory.
And in the championship, Newtown rallied to defeat Guilford, 40-32, as a strong inside game and tough man-to-man defense negated Guilfordâs speed and quickness. The locals were trailing by six with two minutes remaining in the first half but then scored four unanswered points before the break and pulled away in the second half.
Dunn and Roche controlled the post area and combined for 21 points and 14 rebounds. Frangione and Parker combined for six points and seven assists at the point guard position and Roche scored four points.
The team was coached by Rob Frangione and Jim Parker.