WESTPORT, Conn. Greens Farms Academys boys basketball team could not muster the same magic in the postseason as it did during its record-setting regular season.
The Dragons season ended Wednesday with a 59-43 loss in the quarterfinals of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference quarterfinals. Greens Farms finishes 18-5 while Hyde, 13-9, advances to Fridays tournament semifinals.
Greens Farms finished the regular-season with a 15-game winning streak before losing to King of Stamford, 64-62, in the Fairchester Athletic Association quarterfinals. The Dragons hoped to far better against Hyde, which they beat 56-53 on Feb. 8. This time, however, the Wolfpack took away Sean Obi inside and played stifling defense the entire game. Hyde played nearly the entire second half with a double-digit lead.
I think the difference was us, Greens Farms coach Doug Scott said We seemed to have the jitters. Theyre an athletic team, and our offensive problems fueled their run.
Robert Lewis scored 21 points to lead Hyde, including 17 in the first half. Christian Ejija scored 14 for the Wolfpack, 13 in the second half. Hunter Eggers of Greenwich led Greens Farms with 15 while Obi, also of Greenwich, finished with 11.
You have to give them the credit, said Obi, who also had 16 rebounds. It just wasnt our day. But we still had a very good season.
Greens Farms led early and was tied with Hyde at 13-13 with 8:32 left in the first half after a basket by Eggers. Hyde scored eight straight points to take the lead for good. The Wolfpack led 27-18 at halftime as Greens Farms had 15 turnovers and shot just seven-for-18 from the field in the first half.
The Dragons finished with 19 turnovers for the game and trailed by 18 at several points in the second half. The Dragons were within 38-27 with 6:10 left, but Hyde took off on an 8-2 run to break it open again.
Despite its last two games, Greens Farms had a sensational season. Led by Obi, a 6-foot, 9-inch junior who averaged 18.2 points and 20.2 rebounds before Wednesday, the Dragons put together the best season in the school's history. Obi, Eggers and most of the top players will return next season. The one key loss will be Westport senior Brien Comey.
In the history of the program, this was the best team the school has ever had, Scott said. Not a lot of people can say that. The glass is half-empty after this kind of game, but we had a good season and were young. Were going to be strong again next year, too.
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