The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Torrington falls to Gilbert in OT
WINSTED — Less than a week after Torrington stunned perennial NVL power Crosby with a win at Torrington High School, the Berkshirre League’s Gilbert Yellowjackets turned the tables on the Raiders in a 66-62 overtime stunner of their own Monday night at The Gilbert School.
“They shot the lights out in the first half and we were flat,” Torrington coach Eric Gamari said. “We dug a hole.”
If Torrington (9-7; 9-5
NVL) came in underestimating their Winsted neighbor, the Yellowjackets (9-7; 8-4 Berkshire League) licked their chops at the opportunity to finally prove themselves against a quality opponent after a string of near misses, including a five-point overtime loss to BL leader Wamogo last month.
“Tonight, we played to the standard we needed to,” said Nolan Adams, highlighting the can’tmiss first-half Gilbert aura with 16 of his game-high 20 points, including four three-pointers.
A big part of the Yellowjacket
problem has been numbers. With just eight players on the roster, the five quality starters know they’re in there to stay for most of every game.
“We’ve stayed confident and never lost hope,” said John Devanney, taking over second-half/overtime scoring duties with all 19 of his points when the Raiders came out showing the intensity that ultimately beat Crosby last Tuesday.
“We work on our conditioning in practice,” Devanney said.
Four of the five Gilbert starters finished in double figures Monday. Corey Schmidt and Adam Biraga helped build an amazing 22-10 first quarter. While Adams was firing up three of his threepointers in the period, Schmidt added seven of his 11 points for the game, including another three.
While they cooled off in the second quarter, Yellowjacket center Adam Biraga stayed busy with all 10 of his game points moving toward a 35-22 Gilbert lead at the half.
“Adam is very good,” Gamari said. “Talented big men tend to give us
trouble.”
In the third quarter, much of the Gilbert trouble came from a trapping, buzzing Torrington defense, with Raider Thaddaeus Kimberley setting a breakneck pace with eight of his 16 points en route to a 22-11 Torrington bulge pulling the Raiders to a 46-44 deficit going into the final period.
“It’s good that we showed we can come back,” Gamari said. “Most of the time (in our wins), we have the lead.”
On the bench going into the final period, Gilbert coach Mark Douglass was happy his team showed no signs of crumbling.
“We recouped and our defense made up for a lot,” he said.
In the fourth quarter, following three doubledigit periods for both teams, the Raiders closed
the gap, 53-53, in a 9-7 defensive struggle. Torrington team leader Jordan Harvey (19 points) had six of the Raider points. Devanney matched him with six for the Yellowjackets.
“We panicked in the final minute of regulation,” said Gamari, watching his team miss a chance to put it away with two forced shots in the final seconds.
The following extra five minutes was a time for steady nerves.
Down 61-57 with a minute
left, Torrington point guard Harvey made a steal, passing ahead to Kimberley for a racing layup, 61-59.
At 47 seconds, Raider Andre Story fouled to stop the clock. Gilbert’s Greyson Ursone sank both his 1-and-1 free throw tries.
After a Gilbert steal, Schmidt dropped in another foul shot, 64-59. Harvey nailed a three with 15 seconds left — still time for a quick Raider
steal/rebound and another overtime at 64-62.
Harvey stopped the clock with nine seconds left. Ursone went to the line, sinking two more foul shots, 66-62. The Torrington hope was gone.
While his teammates celebrated, Ursone insisted, “There was no pressure. I trust my free throws. I make 75 of them a day in practice.”
Perhaps it’s a small part of the stamina required for Gilbert’s starting five.