Ballerz Second At CHS Holiday Tournament

The Newtown Ballerz, the Newtown Youth Basketball sixth-grade boys’ travel team, recently took home second place in the competitive Christian Heritage School Holiday Tournament. The Ballerz went 2-1 in pool play and advanced to the championship round with impressive victories over the Bridgeport Cardinal Shehan Center and Ansonia Boys & Girls Club.

In the opening round game against the Shehan Center, Newtown jumped out to an early 14-7 lead behind strong inside play from Patrick Conte and Hayes Kelchner. The Ballerz were never threatened and closed out the game on a 27-14 run to win 46-27. Kelchner and Conte led all scorers with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

The final game of pool play saw the Newtown Ballerz hold off a tough Ansonia team 41-33. Strong inside play again was the difference with Kelchner, Conte and Ben Mason dominating the paint. Kelchner and Mason poured in ten points each and Conte contributed eight. Solid offensive and defensive contributions were also received from Bobby Haskins, Jack Moulder, Connor Barrett, Jack Lavelle, Lucas O’Brien, and Thomas Cotton.

In the first round of championship play, the Ballerz lost a close contest to eventual tournament champion Fairfield Hoops, 32-27. Newtown trailed early and came back to take a 27-26 lead late in the game, but Fairfield Hoops closed out the game on a 6-0 run to seal the win.

Newtown finished the tournament with a tough victory over an athletic Bridgeport Trumbull Gardens team, 32-27. Conte and Kelchner led the offensive attack with ten points each, and Moulder finished with nine points, five of which were on free throws late in the game. Solid efforts were also received from Haskins, Barrett, Cotton, Lavelle, Mason, O’Brien, and Mitch Savoca. Kelchner was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance.