Bellringers Hold Off Morgan

Austin Shumbo's three-pointer to end the first half to send East Hampton into the locker room with momentum and a 17-14 lead seemed like a distant memory.

Morgan had come out in the third quarter and taken control with an 8-0 run. The Bellringers were reeling, so coach Bob Freitas called timeout to summon his players to the sideline to settle them down.

And his team responded. East Hampton rallied then held on for a 41-38 victory at home Thursday night over Morgan-Clinton.

"I think everybody that played gave a little bit," said Freitas, who added that his team can only benefit by being in a close game.

Let there be no mistake, this was an important win for East Hampton (6-8), which needs two more victories to qualify for the Class S state tournament.

"It's a goal but it's not our only goal," said Freitas, who made it clear he and his team were taking the season one game at a time. "It's a goal that we have, but we can't get to eight unless we get to seven."

After consecutive baskets by Will Thompson gave Morgan a 20-17 lead early in the third quarter, Scott Ierardi capped the 8-0 run with a steal and drive for a layup to make it 22-17.

Following the timeout, Shumbo righted East Hampton's ship with a three-pointer to pull the Bellringers within 22-20.

Shumbo hit another three to close the deficit to 24-23 then scored on a layup to give East Hampton the lead back at 25-24.

After the Huskies tied the score with a free throw, Shumbo showed he wasn't done, this time hitting a cutting Jeff Pratt with a great pass for a layup and a 27-25 lead.

The back-and-forth third quarter, a far cry from a rather lackluster first half by both teams, continued until, with time running down in the quarter and the play having broken down, Matt Vasquenza launched a three at the buzzer that found the bottom of the net.

Vasquenza's dramatics gave the Bellringers a 32-29 lead and they wouldn't trail again, though they wouldn't be able to pull away from Morgan and it's deliberate half-court style of play, either.

"They're a good team. They have that slow down style, but we like to play that style," Freitas said.

Trailing 39-38 in the final seconds, and needing to foul, Morgan did, and it almost worked. Vasquenza, who had been 4 of 4 from the line in the fourth quarter, missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Kyle Adams came up huge, fighting for a rebound that resulted in a jump ball call. With the arrow favoring East Hampton, the Bellringers maintained possession. Morgan quickly fouled again, this time sending Nate Heroux to the line with 7.9 seconds left. Heroux, a sophomore, rattled the first shot in, then following a timeout, cleanly hit the second for a 41-38 lead.

Morgan still had a chance to tie the score and send the game into overtime. They managed to get off two three-point attempts, but it wasn't to be.

Shumbo led East Hampton with 13 points, Vasquenza had 10 and Brian Roberson added eight.

Erich Berzinskas scored 14 points for Morgan.

After a 2-6 start to the season, Freitas likes how his team is coming together.

"We're putting the kids in a position where we are starting to be successful," said Freitas, who cited their hard-work ethic, togetherness and maturation as a team as key components to any success they have had or will achieve.

He pointed to a play in the final minute by Vasquenza as one example of the growth his freshman guard and his team has undertaken this season.

With Morgan in a full-court press, and a 10-second violation about to be called, Vasquenza had the wherewithal to call a timeout.

"Matty calling a timeout with about a half-second left, that's part of the game, he's a freshman and he knows that already," Freitas said.

East Hampton travels to play at North Branford Friday night, a team it has already defeated this season. With Cromwell, Coginchaug and Valley Regional looming on the schedule, it's just another important game.