Sam Clachko dribbles up the court ahead of teammates and Wilton players during Staples’ 53-43 FCIAC tournament quarterfinal win Saturday. Other Staples players pictured are, from left: Adam Udell (No. 1), Ethan Cukier (No. 2), Chris Zajac (No. 12) and Gavin Rothenberg (No. 20). / Photos by Andy Hutchsion
Photo left: Cody Sale makes a move around a defender during tournament action Saturday. At right: Adam Udell turns on the speed as a Wilton player defends.

By Andy Hutchison

FAIRFIELD — The Staples High boys basketball team used a stellar defensive effort to avenge a regular-season overtime loss to Wilton and advanced with a 53-43 victory Saturday in the FCIAC Tournament. 

The No. 4 Wreckers rolled past the No. 5 Warriors in the quarterfinals at Fairfield Warde High School, moving on to the semifinals against No. 1 Ridgefield. That game, rescheduled because of the snowstorm, now will take place at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at neutral site Wilton High School. Ridgefield beat No. 8 New Canaan on Saturday.

In Tuesday’s game, a spot in the title game on Thursday, March 2, is on the line. Staples defeated Ridgefield 61-54 in the regular campaign.

Photo left: Charlie Honig moves past a defender during FCIAC playoff action. At right: Gavin Rothenberg drives toward the basket.

In their tourney opener, the Wreckers led the Warriors 24-17 at the half and started the third quarter on an 8-0 run to establish a 15-point cushion less than three minutes out of the break.

Chris Zajac had two baskets and Cody Sale and Sam Clachko also scored to open the half.

Wilton chipped away and pulled to within 32-25 and 34-29. It was 36-29 Wreckers going to the fourth, and the Warriors hung around until the mid-point of the final stanza.

“We knew they weren’t going to stop going after us. I just wanted our kids to stay confident,” Staples Coach David Goldshore said.

Sam Clachko looks to get past a defender on his way to the hoop.

A 3-pointer got Wilton within six at 39-33, but the Wreckers answered with consecutive 3-point trips down the court with Gavin Rothenberg connecting from downtown and Clachko converting a 3-point play the old-fashioned way by making a basket and foul shot for a 45-33 advantage with 2:54 to go.

Staples iced things at the free throw line, draining 10 foul shots down the stretch.

Clachko finished with 14 points, Sale and Zajac both scored 13 and Rothenberg added eight.

The Wreckers, lost 69-68 to Wilton in the regular season, held the Warriors’ offense in check throughout their playoff clash.

“I think we had two great days of defensive preparation for this,” said Goldshore, adding that Assistant Coach Bob Buswell noted several days before the game that defense wins championships.

The Wreckers still have a couple of wins to go, but defense has won Staples at least a chance to reach the pinnacle game.

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.

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