Staples’ Gavin Rothenberg, left photo, and Chris Zajac, right, work for buckets during the Wreckers’ 68-67 overtime win over New Canaan on Tuesday. / Photos by Mark Sikorski

By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — The Staples High School boys basketball team had to put in a little extra work Tuesday. In the end, however, the Wreckers got it done again. 

Staples edged visiting New Canaan, 68-67, remaining unbeaten at 6-0 to start the year.

Chris Zajac led the way with 27 points, Cody Sale scored 13 and Caleb Smith had 10 points and seven rebounds. Gavin Rothenberg added eight points in the win.

Charlie Honig drives for two points for the Wreckers.

Sale made a free throw to force overtime at 60-60. New Canaan scored first in the extra period and the teams traded baskets with Zajac scoring the first six Staples points in OT. New Canaan hit one of two free throws for a late lead and Sale drained the game-winning shot with 20 seconds left.

“It was a back and forth game with both teams holding double digit leads. Just incredibly proud of our kids for staying patient and finding a way to come out on top,” Staples Coach David Goldshore said.

This was Staples’ second one-point nail-biter in the last three games, having edged Newtown 48-47 on Jan. 3.

The Wreckers are on the road Friday, Jan. 13, to face Greenwich and visit Danbury Jan. 17 before returning Jan. 20 home to take on Stamford. Tipoff for all those contests is 7 p.m.

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.