Bellringers Find a Way to Beat Westbrook

The sign of a good team, or at least an improving one, is to survive when it's not at its best. The Bellringers' boys' basketball team took the pivotal step of learning how to win when it defeated Westbrook 53-46 in a Shoreline Conference game in East Hampton Saturday night.

For approximately three quarters, the Bellringers played well enough to win but for a stretch that began with 16 seconds left in the first quarter and extending to 3:30 into the third quarter – a span of 11:46 – East Hampton managed just two free throws by Nate Heroux and one by Jeff Pratt. Yes, three points.

"We got really open shots. We just got cold. They were uncontested shots," East Hampton coach Bob Freitas said about his team's slowdown. "We separated ourselves from them early enough. Thank goodness we played good defense."

The offense had seized up – like an engine without oil. It was an invitation for defeat.

East Hampton (1-1) started strong and Brian Roberson's deft 10-foot shot through the lane gave the Bellringers an 18-7 lead with 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Then the offense stalled. Pratt made one of two free throws for their only offense of the second quarter. At halftime, the score was tied, 19-19.

"We played decent defense in the second quarter," Westbrook coach Jeff Beeman said. "We rebounded better than we did in the first quarter. They didn't get many shots."

Westbrook (1-1) pulled ahead 23-21 before East Hampton freshman Matt Vasquenza sank a three-pointer to give the Bellringers a 24-23 lead.

That was the spark that got them out of their funk.

Once the Purple Knights' run was over – they outscored East Hampton 16-3 in that stretch of 11:46 – the Bellringers composed themselves, got in synch offensively and continued to play pesky defense.

Even though East Hampton's offense struggled, it did provide  sufficient balance with three double-digit scoring efforts and an eight-point performance from a reserve. Captain Austin Shumbo and Heroux each had a game-high 13 points. Pratt added 11 and Roberson, off the bench, had eight. East Hampton was 11 of 20 from the free-throw line.

Connor Eastman paced Westbrook with 13 points. Sam Grigo had 11.

Freitas made some changes in tactics once he saw the Knights were focusing on contesting East Hampton's perimeter shooters. His team's response to those instructions helped awaken the offense.

"We made some adjustments to get the ball into our big guys – Shumbo, Roberson and [Kyle] Adams." Freitas said. "Kyle had some rebounds and he had a big layup. We got some points down low and we made some free throws."

The Bellringers next play Monday at home against Hyde Leadership of New Haven in a conference game.