By Andy Hutchison

NEWTOWN — Down four points in the final minute, the Staples High boys basketball team rallied to stun host Newtown 48-47 on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Wreckers remain unbeaten at 4-0 despite being held to a season-low point total after posting at least 61 in three previous contests. A combination of some early shooting struggles and solid opposing defense left the Wreckers behind 22-15 at halftime. Staples was down 35-31 after three quarters.

Cody Sale scored a clutch basket despite a foul and hit the free throw for a 3-point play with 36 seconds remaining, bringing the Wreckers within a point at 47-46. Sale then hit a baseline shot with 25 seconds to go, and the Wreckers held on.

Sale also hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth when he poured in 10 of his 12 points. Sam Clachko hit a 3-pointer in Staples’ 17-point fourth quarter and finished with five points.

Chris Zajac scored 16 to lead the Wreckers and Caleb Smith scored seven.

Staples was held scoreless until 3:19 into the game but finished the first quarter on a 9-0 run to seize an 11-6 lead. The Wreckers overcame another slow start to the second quarter which saw a 10-0 NHS run before the first Staples points of the period 5:24 into the stanza. Staples was behind by 10 points early in the third before chipping away.

The Wreckers tightened defensively and they drew some late-game charges to help shift the momentum.

“They never quit. Give them credit,” Staples Coach David Goldshore said of his players.

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s. Learn more about us here.