The Morgan boys basketball team started the season on the right foot, winning three straight games against opponents Valley, North Branford and Wheeler. However, after a great start, the losses soon followed. First an out of conference loss to Weston, then a loss to division rival Cromwell and lastly to our neighbors HK. The responsibility shifts to the players, as it is in their power to turn this season around.
After an underwhelming season last year, having not made the playoffs in the shoreline or state tournaments and collecting 12 loses, the Huskies looked different and were a renewed team to start the season with their opener against Valley.
The game was a massacre, a 22-6 first quarter meant the Huskies were in complete control. Back to back Three pointers from senior Dylan Cinquino and junior Michael Dwake, put the Huskies well ahead to start the second half. The Huskies’ dominance continued from start to finish resulting in a 70-41 win. The Huskies dominated in every statistical category except free throws, shooting just 50% from the line is an area that will need improvement in the coming games.
The Huskies then faced a gritty North Branford team. The Huskies overwhelming offense proved too much for the Thunderbirds as the huskies ran along to another 70 point night in the 70-59 win. Dylan Cinquino and Michael Dwake led the offense with their combined 10 three pointers, The Huskies dominated the statistical categories beating North Branford in every single category, with a 37% three point percentage and a much improved 79% free throw percentage.
Soon after, the Huskies faced Wheeler in the winter classic tournament, the game was back and forth as a clutch Aeden Harkins three pointer put the Huskies up 54-53 with just two minutes left. From that point, the Huskies never looked back, scoring 10 more points, helping lead to a 65-54 victory, making them winners of three straight. A strong performance from sophomores Aeden Harkins and Chris Phan certainly helped the Huskies grab the victory.
“I was locked in defensively. The harder that I played defensively, somehow made me play better offensively.” said Harkins after his 18 point performance.
“We were feeling pretty good about our start to the season, we were playing pretty good offensively,” said Phan.
The following game was against a strong Weston team that proved to be a challenge for the Huskies, leading to a 59-73 Loss for the Huskies.
The Huskies struggled from the free throw line once again shooting an abysmal 50% and were turning the ball over excessively as Weston had 17 steals in the game. “The game wasn’t clean, we made too many mistakes and didn’t do well offensively. I definitely could have been more active on the defensive end and maybe have gotten another steal or two,” said Cinquino.
The following game was an uncharacteristically bad offensive night for the Huskies, leading to their second straight loss, this one to a strong Cromwell side with the score ending 46-69. The Huskies shot a season low 19% from three and 28% from the field while turning the ball over 12 times.
“We just need to pick it up defensively, it was an off night shooting the ball, but that is going to always happen at some point. We need to do well on defense to try and keep us in the game,” said Harkins.
The Huskies next game was against a good HK team, leading to a 47-57 loss for the Huskies. The Huskies matched their season low 19% from three point range, which was a big factor in the loss.
“The scoring is going to come, we are a pretty good offensive team, we just need to be patient. It’s going to fall eventually,” said Cinquino. The Huskies have a very solid shooting back court of Cinquino and Dwake as well as the sophomore duo of Harkins and Phan.
One of the moments of the season came in the next game against East Hampton. An incredible game where in dramatic fashion with the game tied and one second left on the clock, senior Will Scoppa went up for a tough floater over two East Hampton defenders to win the game at the buzzer 56-54. The Huskies did however continue to struggle from the line yet again shooting at just 38% a season low. Dwake and Harkins both contributed on the offensive end where Harkins had four threes and Dwake had three, Harkins also contributed strongly with three steals.
All are extremely talented offensively and can turn games around with their tremendous skill. The team stays positive and will look to turn things around with strong performances in future games. One thing is for sure, this team has the capabilities to be electric, only time will tell how far they get.
