Then there was 1
Danbury erupts in fourth quarter to stun Staples, remain lone undefeated FCIAC team
DANBURY — A perfect beginning to the Danbury boys basketball season continued on Tuesday, despite the Hatters trailing for the first three quarters to their only undefeated FCIAC counterpart.
Staring down its first loss of the season as it trailed by eight points heading into the final quarter, Danbury exploded for 27 points to stun Staples 63-54.
Danbury (9-0) is now just one of two undefeated boys basketball teams in the state, along with 7-0 Windsor Locks, a Division V school. The Hatters are ranked fifth in the GameTimeCT Top 10 poll and atop the Division I ratings.
Danbury’s 6-foot-5 senior forward Christian Jeffers led all scorers with 20 points while 5-8 senior guard Cushan Perkins added 16 points, 11 in the fourth quarter.
“The kids have responded to every challenge so far this year, and they responded again in the fourth quarter,” Danbury coach Casey Bock said. “We were able to pressure them a little bit and we just hit some shots and it kind of snowballed. We got back into the game and then we were able to take over the game.”
After getting into early foul trouble, it was senior Quintin Chapman who breathed life into the Hatters as they erased the eight-point deficit and turned it into a ninepoint victory.
“I had a lot of fouls going into the fourth, so I knew I needed to make an impact,” said Chapman. “I really tried to fit in where I could and help my team any way I can. It was amazing.”
The 6-5 Chapman only had eight points in the game, but six of them came in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback as he hit a 3-pointer and completed a three-point play. He also had two blocked shots.
“He is our ‘X-factor’, because he can do so many things, he is so versatile,” Bock said. “He can guard multiple positions and offensively he can go inside out, when he gets going he can be the best player on the court. I can’t speak enough about him because he does those little things that might not show up in the stats, but he does the little things for us.”
After a 16-point first quarter, Danbury only managed to score 20 points between the second and third quarters. In the fourth, Danbury would outscore Staples by 17 points.
“Hype, the locker room was so loud,” Chapman said. “This was a mustwin game and we showed it tonight. We are all happy, cheering. Undefeated still, we are going to try and keep going.”
The Hatters have had little trouble finding success in the big moment this season, with five single-digit point victories over Ridgefield (67-65), WCA (68-65), New Canaan (60-57, 2OT), Trumbull (58-51) and now Staples.
The comeback was hardly a surprise to Bock.
“We played Ridgefield earlier in the season in a tournament, so I think these guys have experienced some big games,” Bock said. “I think they are used to it, and it is nice to see them come together and get over the deficit and win a game. I think the way the league is, every night is going to be a game like that.”
There are six other teams in the FCIAC with two or fewer losses. Danbury hosts Brien McMahon (6-3) on Friday.
Despite the success, long-term thinking is still the priority for Danbury.
“They are pumped,” Bock said. “You know, the biggest thing is to try and keep them grounded. Now it is the next game up and we just have to get better every day so that in March we are at our best.”
Staples (7-1) was led by senior Cody Sale, who led the Wreckers with 16 points, and the 6-7 senior Chris Zajac, who scored seven of Staples’ 10 fourthquarter points.
Staples, the top-rated team in Division II, will look to rebound from its first loss of the season at home against Stamford (5-2) on Friday night.