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Stamford High boys basketball coach Jim Moriarty wouldn't change much of Thursday's game against Brien McMahon High in the Kuczo Tournament at Westhill High School. "We did everything,'' the veteran coach said, "but win the game."
McMahon's Tyler Shular scored on a twisting, driving layup with one second left to give the Senators a 50-49 victory. Shular's basket came after Anthony Davis missed the front end of a one-and-one for Stamford with Stamford with 14.5 seconds left. McMahon grabbed the rebound and raced upcourt. With the clock winding down, Shular waited at the top of the key before driving the line and hitting the game-winner. Time expired as Stamford inbounded the ball.
"Anthony's a good foul shooter,'' Moriarty said. "He's the player we want in that situation. But you have to make your free throws. I would do the same thing again."
Stamford (2-3) played the game at the pace Moriarty preferred against a quick McMahon team (5-0) that beat the Black Knights earlier in the season. Stamford trailed 48-44 with 2:15 left, but a 3-pointer by Shyquino Dix with 2:02 left brought them within a point. Danny Turkvan's driving layup with 35 seconds left gave Stamford a 49-48 lead and set up the final shot.
Shawn Padilla scored 12 points for Stamford, while Davis and Luis Bridtter added 11. Turkvan, who scored 19 points in a 75-57 win over Westhill on Tuesday, was held to seven.
"I thought we played as good as we can play at this point in the season,'' Moriarty said. "We have to improve on our mental mistakes, things that are grade-school problems."
Stamford's three losses have all been close. The Black Knights fell by 4 to McMahon earlier in the season and by 4 against Trumbull. "McMahon is a team that will be there in the end,'' Moriarty said. "You have to beat them now to prove you can beat them later on."
In the nightcap, Wilbur Cross topped Westhill, 66-61. Antwan Boyd scored 20 points for Westhill (3-2) and Chris Walter added 17. Ervin Thompson chipped in 12. Gerald McClease scored 24 for Cross (5-2).
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