TORRINGTON — As the summer league season winds down, the Housatonic Valley Regional High School boys summer basketball team notched its first win of the season Wednesday, July 30, against Torrington PAL, the best team in the league.
The back-and-forth contest saw Housatonic pull ahead in the final seconds to earn a 62-57 win. After falling to Torrington by 18 points in their first matchup this season, the team showed marked improvement.
“When they start to listen, pass and cut and share the ball, it’s a better game,” said Housatonic Coach Dino Labbadia. “You can’t win a game by yourself.”
The game tipped off at 8:30 p.m., with the thermostat in the Torrington Armory reading 90 degrees.
Housatonic took an early lead, but a powerful breakway dunk by Torrington’s Owen Fenn shifted momentum. By the halftime whistle, Torrington led 30-26.
While the teams huddled, spectators left the arena to cool down. The last time these teams played, Torrington ran away after halftime — something certainly on the minds of Housatonic players.
Housatonic changed the script this time around, moving the ball and making incisive cuts to pull ahead 51-43 with six minutes remaining.
Nick Crodelle lines up a three-pointer inside Torrington Armory.Theo Maniatis
Torrington roared back, closing the gap to 54-51 with a minute left. Their coach yelled to foul, trying to extend the game, but Housatonic hit their free throws and dug in on defense.
By this time, the teams for the next game on the schedule had arrived, packing the sweltering arena and heightening the tension.
With 24 seconds left, Torrington was fouled on a three-point attempt, much to Labbadia’s frustration. The shooter made two of three free throws, grabbed the rebound and attacked the rim for two more points. One-possession game.
Housatonic went down court to score and held on for the victory.
Owen Reimer and Anthony Foley led Housatonic’s stat sheet with 18 points each.
For Torrington, Owen Fenn scored a game-high 19 points and Chris Delacruz added 17.
After the game, Shepaug Valley defeated Lakeview, statistically eliminating Housatonic from qualifying for the Torrington Summer Basketball League playoffs.
