Search the site...

Josh Howard Sports
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

Eagles Basketball Survive Late Rally, Down Rocky Hill

2/24/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Wethersfield senior captain Tate Barnett and Rocky Hill’s Alexander Kastner battle for position during the Eagles 47-45 win on Feb. 14

Wethersfield High School boys’ basketball built a large lead in the second half before having to hold on to defeat a resilient Rocky Hill team 47-45 on Valentine’s Day, securing the Eagles a state tourney berth.

Senior captain Tate Barnett led the Eagles with 16 points, also grabbing eight rebounds and blocking four shots.

Head coach Brian Fanelli praised Barnett for his work this season, on and off the court. 

“He does all the little things that kids don’t like to do,” added Fanelli. “He’s a good basketball player and is an unbelievable human being, [and] that’s why he is a good leader on the floor.”

Playing on the road in front of a packed house at Rocky Hill High School, Wethersfield used a 20-3 scoring run to take a commanding second half lead.  

A floater by junior Kobe Chapman provided Wethersfield a 34-14 lead midway through the third before the Terriers stormed back to narrow the deficit to a single possession in the closing minutes. 

Fanelli said that he can use the situation as a learning tool, credited the team for closing out the game despite the Terriers scoring 21 of the final 28 points.  

“We hung in there; we could have folded,” added Fanelli. “With teams that are struggling to get wins, they could have easily closed shop.”

Following a 9-1 scoring run by Rocky Hill early in the fourth, Barnett temporarily halted the scoring surge by stealing a pass and converting an old-fashioned three-point play. 

A pair of late free throws by junior point guard Thomas Daly sealed the win. 

Daly is part of a solid backcourt in Wethersfield that also includes senior captains Ali Abdulkadir and A.J. Karanian. 

The win was the Eagles eighth this season and cemented a spot in the upcoming state tournament. 

It’s a far cry from a year ago when the team only won three games and missed out on postseason play.  

Fanelli stated that his players are starting to figure out how to adjust to in-game situations, which has led to some impressive wins this winter. 

After losing seven of the first ten games this season, the win over Rocky Hill was the Eagles fifth in the last seven games. 
During that stretch, they won consecutive conference games over Hartford Public, Plainville, and South Windsor. 

Fanelli added that many of his players have had to learn the rigors of the varsity game this winter and wins like the one of Rocky Hill can go a long way to building confidence. 

“We try and teach our guys to be in those situations, not just for this year but also next year,” added Fanelli. “Kids play sports because it is one of those situations where they are criticized on the spot. How you respond will make or break you.”

With the state tourney looming, Fanelli said the team’s need to take advantage of the easy opportunities and tighten up the decision making.

​“I would like them to be more consistent,” added Fanelli. “We’ve been a little inconsistent at taking care of the ball and we can’t have that when it comes to playoff time.”

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Sports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    April 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly