Staples’ Sam Clachko battles for two points during Friday night win over Greenwich. He scored a team-best 20 points. / Photos by Mark Sikorski

By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Trailing by three points heading to the fourth quarter, the Staples boys basketball team stepped up defensive pressure and shifted the offense into overdrive to earn a 57-49 win over Greenwich on Friday night.

With the win, the Wreckers’ second straight, Staples improves to a 7-4 record this season, and is on the cusp of state playoff qualification.

Sam Clachko scored 11 of his team-best 20 points in the fourth quarter. Adam Udell had five of his 15 in the final stanza as the Wreckers outscored the visiting Cardinals 18-7 in the final eight minutes after trailing 42-39 through three quarters of play. Staples led 32-30 at the half.

Adam Udell goes up for two points during Friday’s victory.

Mason Tobias scored nine points, Nick Sikorski registered eight and Dhilan Lowman added five.

The Wreckers host Wilton at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. (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.

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