Milford Knights 8th Grade Boys Win InSports Holiday Tournament

The Milford Knights Blue 8th grade boys’ basketball team captured its third InSports Holiday Tournament in four years with a 50-41 victory over West Haven on Sunday. The Knights avenged last year’s, last-second Finals defeat to the same West Haven team using suffocating team defense and timely outside shooting .

Matt Piechota scored the Knights’ first five points as they ran out to a 5-2 lead. Sam Rosa extended the lead to 8-4 with a three pointer from the top of the key. Riley Jordan added a driving lay-up and Dominic DiFederico added a free throw to give the Knights an 11-8 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Knights’ Luke Dana stop a West Haven run with an offensive put back and Nolan McKenna-Hansen chipped in with 4 points as Milford held a 19-18 lead at the half.

Zach Worzel opened the third quarter scoring with a baseline jumper extending the lead to 21-18. Matt Piechota added 9 of his game-high 17 points and Nolan McKenna-Hansen closed out the quarter with 3 consecutive free throws as the Knights took a 33-28 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, Ethan Long drained a long three and McKenna-Hansen added a hoop as the Knights took a 38-32 lead. John Neider added back-to-back baskets and a Long free throw made it 43-38 Knights with 2 minutes remaining.

Out of a time-out Sam Rosa buried a deep 3 extending the lead to 46-38. Long, Piechota and Rosa (2) all added free throws to close out the Knights 50-41 win.

The Knights path to the Championship started with a 44-42 win over Trumbull Travel and a 45-42 win over West Haven. Knight’s guard Matt Piechota was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Front Row: Nolan McKenna-Hansen, Dominic DiFederico, Zach Worzel, John Neider, Matt Piechota

Back Row: Head Coach Kevin Long, Ethan Long, Sam Rosa, Luke Dana, Riley Jordan, Coach Scott Worzel

Missing from photo: Brendan Buchner, Christian Andriolas