Coginchaug Holds Off East Hampton

And then there were two.  Two games left for the East Hampton boys, of which they need one victory to qualify for the Class S tournament.

The Bellringers almost got it Friday night, losing 42-36 to Coginchaug in East Hampton. The game was there for the taking, the Blue Devils, playing their seventh game in 11 days, ripe to be picked off.

The reason it didn't happen is a microcosm of how the season has gone for East Hampton (7-11). Missed shots, turnovers, unable to get the ball down low to its big men, an inconsistency that has trumped the heart and effort the Bellringers bring to the court each game.

"We missed a lot of shots and turnovers and still had a shot to win the game," East Hampton coach Bob Freitas said. "You keep doing what you're doing. Even with all the turnovers, we gave up [19] points - to a team that scores a lot - in the first half. That's good. Unfortunately, we don't put the ball in the basket enough. We gave ourselves a shot. The game wasn't over till there was a minute or two left."

Coginchaug, which has averaged 55 points a game this season, jumped out in front on a three-pointer by Erickson Wasyl. It's a lead the Blue Devils would not surrender, though they were never far from East Hampton's sight.

As difficult a time East Hampton had scoring, the same was true for Coginchaug (13-5). Wasyl scored nine of his team's 12 points in the first quarter. For the game, Coginchaug had only three players make baskets.

"We just didn't finish," Coginchaug coach Todd Salva said. "We executed very well, our defense was solid. Offensively, we missed eight layups in the first half. This is the seventh game we've played in the last [11] days. It's the third game we've played in the last four days. Our legs weren't under us and that's what happens, you just don't finish as well. I thought we gutted out a great win. I'm very pleased with what we did today."

Leading 19-12 at the half, the Blue Devils extended their lead to 23-15 early in the third quarter, their biggest lead of the game. East Hampton responded, beginning with Austin Shumbo's putback off a rebound of his own miss. Shumbo's three made it 25-21 and Brian Roberson cut the deficit to 25-23 with a turnaround jumper in the lane. Wasyl's driving layup made it 27-23 heading into the final quarter.

Matt Vasquenza broke down Coginchaug's defense with a dribble drive into the lane for a layup to make the score 28-25. Wasyl answered with a three-point play to extend the lead to 31-25. Another three from Shumbo followed by a steal and a layup by the senior got East Hampton to within 31-30 with 4:48 remaining.

It was as close as the Bellringers had been since the opening tip, but they wouldn't get any closer.

Wasyl was fouled on a drive to the basket and made both free throws for a 33-30 Blue Devils' lead. Then two critical turnovers by the Bellringers sandwiched between two baskets by Coginchaug's Tommy Ryan left East Hampton down, 37-30. From there, the Blue Devils put the game away from the free-throw line.

"I think we can play with anybody," Freitas said. "We have to learn to play to win instead of playing not to lose."

Freitas also would like to see his team be more aggressive on offense. East Hampton attempted no free throws in the first half and only six for the game.

For Coginchaug, it seems the team is getting back on track by winning its second straight after losing two in a row.

"There was a lot on this game," Salva said. "This win gave us a home game in the shoreline tournament so I'm ecstatic.

There was no such joy on the East Hampton sideline, but some solace should come from knowing the team can still reach its goal of making the state tournament with one more victory. Whether that victory came against Coginchaug or comes Monday night against Morgan in Clinton makes no difference. Morgan is a team the Bellringers have defeated once this season and can again with the same effort they showed Friday night.

"Morgan is no different than any other game," Freitas said. "You're playing on the road, so it's not going to be easy. It's going to be a battle. Sometimes we're so close, sometimes we just win by close. We're right in every game. We compete."

Shumbo led East Hampton in scoring with 12 points. Wasyl scored 24 for Coginchaug and Ryan added 10.