By Andy Hutchison

Despite a late basket by Cody Sale to force overtime, the visiting Staples High boys basketball team ultimately fell just short in a 69-68 Wilton victory last Tuesday.

The Wreckers were back on the road Friday against Brien McMahon and fell 63-51, with Chris Zajac scoring 22 points.

Against Wilton, Sale finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal. He also hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Zajac scored 18, grabbed 14 rebounds, logged four assists and had a steal and block. Sam Clachko added 16 points, collected a dozen of those on four shots from downtown, and had two steals along with a block.

Charlie Honig contributed six points, five assists and four rebounds. Adam Udell and Ethan Cukier both had nine rebounds to go along with two points.

Wilton led 33-31 at the half and built a 53-45 advantage through three quarters of play. The Wreckers outscored the Warriors 16-8 in the fourth to send the game into extra time, tied at 61 apiece.

The Wreckers are 10-4 for the season overall.

After visiting Trumbull at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Wreckers will host Bridgeport Central at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb, 10.

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.