By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Staples boys basketball team, riding high after a 67-39 home win over Bridgeport Central last Thursday, stumbled against Saint Bernard High, an out-of-conference school in Uncasville, with a 63-56 loss Saturday.

The eastern Connecticut basketball powerhouse and Staples have established a rivalry over the last several years, with the Saints besting the Wreckers for the CIAC Division II crown in 2023.

Against Saint Bernard on Saturday, Staples lost the turnover battle 14-3, but hung close behind 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Sam Clachko and a combined 27 points from Mason Tobias and Adam Udell.

Tobias had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and a trio of steals. Udell logged 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a pair of steals.

The Wreckers in their victory over Central High earlier in the week won the turnover battle 13-1 and came away with 10 steals.

Clachko scored 14 points, had five assists and one steal. Charlie Bowman scored 13 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, one block and a pair of steals.

Tobias dropped in nine points, grabbed five rebounds and had an assist and two steals. 

Matty Corrigan scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and had a block and an assist. Dhilan Lowman also scored eight points and had a steal.

Austin Heyer scored four points, registered three assists and had three steals. Jack Jacob had four points and two rebounds. Ben Cukier scored three points and grabbed three rebounds Udell added two points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Wreckers are 12-2 overall for the season and 8-1 in FCIAC play. They lead the way in the West Division, three victories ahead of a trio of second-place teams.

Staples returns home for a battle with Fairfield Ludlowe at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Ludlowe stands at 7-2 in conference play, tied for second with Fairfield Warde in the East Division, behind 9-0 Ridgefield.

Staples has six games remaining, culminating with a visit to Ridgefield at 7 p.m. Feb. 19. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)  

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