By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT–Undefeated in the regular season — a sparkling 20-0, 15-0 in FCIAC play — the Staples boys basketball team begins its “second season” on Saturday.

The Wreckers, coming off a 67-49 Senior Night win over Ridgefield on Wednesday, will host an FCIAC Tournament quarterfinal game Saturday at 1:45 p.m.

Staples is the top seed and will host either Westhill of Stamford or Stamford, pending results of Thursday contests. Under the new scheduling scenario, due to snow causing postponements, semifinals are moved to Monday at neutral site Wilton. The championship remains set for Wednesday, March 4 at Fairfield University beginning at 7:30 p.m. Last year, Staples defeated Ridgefield for its first title in 62 years.

As for their regular-season capping win, the Wreckers led 10-8 after one quarter and 33-25 at the half.

Dhilan Lowman scored 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and had a trio of steals. Matty Corrigan dropped in 15 points. Austin Heyer and Sam Clachko both delivered 11-point efforts; Heyer added six assists and a pair of steals and Clachko scored nine of his points on 3s and had four assists.

Mason Tobias contributed five points, eight assists and six rebounds. Jack Jacob had four points and a trio of steals and Jared Sale added three points.

Trumbull is the No. 2 seed and Ridgefield the No. 3 team in the FCIAC bracket.

Andy Hutchison

^{_{Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories, since the 1990s. He is the sports editor at the Newtown Bee. He writes for the Monroe Sun. He was director of communications and radio color commentator for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (now Islanders) hockey team. He has won numerous writing awards, including regional and national first-place honors.}}