Wildcats Come Up Short Against Naugatuck

It was a hard fought, back and forth, physical game between the girls basketball team and Naugatuck High, and somebody had to lose. Unfortunately for the Wildcats (0-2), they found themselves on the wrong side of a 54-51 overtime thriller.

After falling behind by eight points in the third quarter, the Wildcats began to claw their way back into the game following Erin Morton's long three that ended a 14-0 run by the Greyhounds.

"We're battling back, and that's good to see," Coach Christin Morgatto said. "In year's past I think that we may have folded, I think this year we see them being warriors and fighting, doing anything they can do to help the team, which is awesome."

The Greyhounds' full court press stifled the Wildcats throughout most of the game, but by the time the fourth quarter began they had figured out how to beat it.

"In some aspects a little bit young with the pressure," Morgatto said. "We had some players that didn't return this year, so we have been putting people in different roles and they're really handling it well, and I think there's only better things to come, they're improving day by day."

With just over two minutes left, the Wildcats took the lead on Casey Oberhammer's three, but couldn't hang on when the Greyhounds scored on an offensive rebound to tie the game with 38 seconds left.

The teams opened overtime by trading baskets, before the Greyhounds pulled away by making four-of-six free throws in the final two minutes to hold on for the win.

Katelin Toth and Oberhammer each finished with 15 points to lead the Wildcats, while Amanda Conroy had nine and Morton finished with eight.

Despite the loss, Morgatto still found some positives in her team's performance.

"We're willing to get on the floor at all costs and dive for that ball," Morgatto said.  "There's a sense of camaraderie, I think for the first time in my three years here, the girls are starting to come together which is great."

The Wildcats' next game is Friday at Stratford with tip off at 7:00 p.m.