Photo left: Chris Zajac goes strong to the hoop during the Wreckers’ win over Norwalk on Wednesday. At right: Charlie Honig sets up the Staples’ offense. / Photos by Mark Sikorski

By Andy Hutchison

NORWALK — The Staples High boys basketball team poured in 25 fourth-quarter points to seize control of a back-and-forth contest Wednesday at Norwalk, prevailing 69-58.

The Wreckers improved to 13-5 overall. 

Chris Zajac scored 20 points, Sam Clachko compiled 18, Charlie Honig had 13 and Cody Sale dropped in 12, 

Cody Sale dribbles the ball during a visit to Trumbull in an early-February game. / Photo by Andy Hutchison

The Wreckers made 23 foul shots including some clutch free throws in the final quarter to seal the win. Clachko made seven of eight foul shots. Clachko and Honig each made a pair of 3-pointers. 

Zajac recorded 13 rebounds and two blocks, Honig had seven assists. Ethan Cukier contributed five points and six rebounds.

Staples led 13-12 after one quarter, the game was tied 28-28 at the half, and the Wreckers held a 44-42 edge going into the fourth. Staples outscored the Bears 25-16 in the final stanza.

The Wreckers, 8-5 in FCIAC play, look to bolster their conference and state tournament seedings in the final two games of the regular slate, both at home — Monday, Feb. 20, versus St. Joseph and Wednesday, Feb. 22, against Darien, both at 7 p.m.

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.