By Andy Hutchison

Westport fans turned out in full force to support the Staples High boys basketball team in its FCIAC Tournament championship clash Friday night against Danbury at Wilton High’s Nicholas Zeoli Field House.

And even though the Wreckers lost the game, 69-53, the support of the crowd helped make this impressive run to the pinnacle game all the more memorable for first-year Coach David Goldshore and company.

Goldshore noted that the supporters stuck around until the final buzzer, several minutes after it became pretty clear Danbury was on its way to victory.

This climb to the FCIAC championship tilt was a triumph of sorts for the Staples program, which put itself just four quarters away from its first conference crown since the 1962-63 season. Back then there were no tournaments — only a season champ.

But the season continues for the Wreckers in the Division II State Tournament — Staples is the No. 7 seed and set to host No. 26 Manchester in the first round Tuesday, March 7. The opening tip is scheduled to get underway at 5:45 p.m. 

Regardless of how far the Wreckers advance in the state bracket, the campaign has been one to remember for Goldshore and the team.

“It’s been great. It’s been the time of my life,” said center Chris Zajac, who recorded a double-double with 14 points to go along with 16 rebounds and added an assist and shot block in the title game.

“I’m really proud of the guys and the way we competed tonight. It just didn’t go our way,” added Zajac, who along with Cody Sale was named to the All Tournament Team.

A lot has gone the Wreckers’ way this winter. Staples posted a 15-5 regular season, highlighted by the FCIAC’s No. 4 seed Wreckers avenging a regular-season setback to Wilton to open the FCIAC tourney, then taking down top-seed Ridgefield in the semifinals. 

Back in the regular slate one of the biggest moments was a 68-67 overtime win over New Canaan.

Goldshore has had plenty of exciting moments in sports alone. The former high school quarterback, basketball and baseball player went on to serve as a student team manager at the University of Michigan back when Michigan had its Fab Five, becoming the first NCAA basketball team with five freshman starters to reach the national championship game, in 1991. 

That may be been an incredible few months for Goldshore, but this season has been extra special, especially when the coach considers how rewarding it has been to have an opportunity to make an impact on this high school group led by captains Zajac, Sale, Charlie Honig and Gavin Rothenberg.

Goldshore, who will be 50 in October, said he told his players in the locker room following the FCIAC championship game just how much this season has meant to him.

“I just told the kids it’s been the best three months of my life,” the coach said. “I love the job and I love the kids. I get to spend two to three hours with them every single day — and watch them grow and care about one another.”

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.