Westport YMCA 8th Grade Travel Team Finishes FCBL Regular Season at 10-1

The Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Travel Basketball program gives boys in grades 5 through 8 the opportunity to play competitive basketball against other local teams in the Fairfield County Basketball League, traditionally one of the toughest leagues in the state.

Leading the Family YMCA’s four teams this season is the 8th Grade squad, which finished the regular season on Feb. 10 with a 52-39 victory at Ansonia Boys & Girls Club against a tough LNV-Ansonia squad. The road win helped the Westport YMCA 8th Graders post an outstanding 10-1 record.

“We are very happy with how the season finished up as we ended the regular season on a high note,” says Coach Jon Dinihanian. Both teams entered the final game of league play with matching 9-1 records.

“We are looking to continue to improve both as a group and with individual skill sets as we prep for the playoffs,” Coach Jon adds. “Although we have been playing well, all the kids are set on improving and getting better day in and day out.”

The Westport YMCA 8th Grade team looks to stay sharp over the school break by sticking with their twice-a-week practice schedule, Tuesdays and Thursday evenings at the Family YMCA’s new McMahon Family Gymnasium.

The Westport YMCA 8th Graders start their FCBL playoff run on Feb. 26 with a game against the Greenwich Flame White team.

Coach Jon says that all 10 players have contributed in various ways. Late in the season Gabe Wick was leading the team in scoring, averaging 13 points a game. Austin Sholes was tallying 7 points and 3 assists a game, with Charlie Roof pulling down 7 rebounds a game and contributing 7 points. Jake Leon and Sam Baxt are also averaging 3 assists a game apiece.

Defense is a strong suit for the squad, with the team holding their opponents to less than 5 points in a quarter in numerous games.

Here’s the complete roster:
Sam Baxt
John Cordero
Sean Hogan
Zack Horowitz
Noah Kanfer
Jake Leon
Eleftherios Pendarakis
Charlie Roof
Austin Sholes
Gabriel Wick

Assistant Coach, Pete Lasecki

To be eligible for a Westport Weston Family YMCA Travel Basketball Team, the player must be a Westport resident. Members of Travel Teams are not obligated to “equal playing time.” However, each coach is required to play each player in every game.

For more information about the Family YMCA’s Travel Basketball program, visit westporty.org. For results and tournament brackets, check this page at www.fcblhoops.org.