FALLS VILLAGE — The Housatonic Valley Regional High School boys basketball team dropped two league contests, to Terryville and Lewis Mills, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 16.
Coming off a thrilling overtime win vs. Thomaston the previous Saturday, the Mountaineers found themselves overmatched by Terryville, losing by a final score of 88-45.
Following that blow-out loss, Housy looked to regain their winning ways vs. the Spartans of Lewis Mills.
Both teams came out ready to play and traded baskets on their opening possessions. The Mountaineers gained the early advantage with a long jumper from the right corner by Nick Camardi followed by a steal on the next Spartan possession and a quick basket for the 6-2 lead.
The lead did not last very long, though, as Lewis Mills answered right back with a fast-break layup on the next possession, before forcing a Housy turnover followed by a jumper from the foul line, evening the score at 6-6.
Defense was the name of the game for the next several minutes as both teams forced their opponent into turnovers, keeping the score even. After several empty possessions, the Spartans knocked down a wide-open three from the left wing to go ahead, 9-6.
Sloppy offensive play by the Mountaineers allowed Lewis Mills to extend their lead to 13-6 with just minutes remaining in the first quarter. Housy trimmed the lead to 13-9 with a three pointer by Max Vadakin before a layup off an offensive rebound as time expired gave the Spartans the 15-9 lead going into the second quarter.
Justin Dean gave the Mountaineers their first points of the quarter less than 60 seconds in, but turnovers and missed shots plagued Housy for the next several minutes, allowing the Spartans to extend their lead to 20-11 with just over half the quarter to play.
Housy began to find their offensive momentum with less than 4 minutes remaining but were only able to get as close as 10 points as both teams headed into the half with the score 33-19 in favor of the visitors.
The second half proved to be a completely different game as Housy quickly narrowed the lead with baskets by Dean, ONeil and Vadakin along with stout defense, forcing the Spartans into four straight empty possessions. Housy began to taste the comeback and a jumper by Dean from the right wing brought Housy to within 6 points, 33-27.
The Spartans finally collected their first points of the quarter with a wide-open three from the left wing. However, the Mountaineer defense again stepped up to the task of holding their opponent scoreless over the next several possession. Riding the momentum of the strong defense, Camardi knocked down a jumper followed by a fade-away from the post by ONeil, bringing the Mountaineers to within 5 points, 36-31.
This would prove to be as close as Housy would get, however, as the Spartans managed to regain their offense, scoring three quick baskets and ending the quarter with the 42-34 advantage.
With only 8 minutes remaining in the game, the Mountaineers started the quarter fired up and hungry for a comeback.
Two made free throws by ONeil gave Housy the early momentum. On the next possession a Lewis Mills turnover allowed Housy a fast break and ONeil and Vadakin ran a nice give and go resulting in an easy layup for ONeil, trimming the lead to 42-38.
Despite the valiant comeback, the four-point deficit proved to be as close as the Mountaineers would come. The Spartans scored on their next four possessions for the 51-39 advantage with just under 2 minutes to play.
Housy never gave up and played until the final whistle, but were unable to overcome the deficit as the final horn blew and the Spartans walked away with the 53-39 victory.
Up next for the Mountaineers were away games versus Wamogo on Tuesday, Jan. 20, after this issue went to press, and Shepaug Valley on Friday, Jan 23.
