Staples Boys Basketball Cruises to Victory Against Trumbull

The Staples-Trumbull boys basketball game was postponed three times last  week due to snow. They finally got the contest in Monday night, but the Eagles may have wished it just kept snowing.

Captain Gabe Seidman scored 19 points as the Wreckers used stonewall defense and streaky runs to post a 61-46 victory in Trumbull.

The two teams are heading in opposite directions.  Staples (11-3, 11-4)  is riding a six-game winning streak while the Eagles (5-8, 6-9) now have dropped four straight. 

Staples built an 11-8 lead after the first quarter and its momentum just snow-balled from there.

“We’re on a good roll here,” said Staples’ Mike Argosh,  who had seven points in the game. “We’ve been running our sets that we’ve been practicing all year and we just executed well.  That’s our bread and butter."

At the half,  the Wreckers owned a 27-19 lead, and once they got into an offensive groove in the third quarter, they hit from all over the place: inside, outside, the baseline, the lanes, wide open or under pressure. Jake Felmons added 12 points for Staples.

Captain Tom Pauciello paced the Eagles with 14 points and 17 rebounds while Travis Fonseca added 12 points,  including a pair for treys, for Trumbull.

 Pauciello was understandably somber after the game.

“They started hitting shots and we started moping around,” he said.

The Wreckers have no time to savor their winning streak as they are in back in action on Tuesday, when they host a dangerous Stamford team.

“We have a big game against Stamford," Staples coach Colin Devine said.  "This was a must-win tonight so moving forward,  it gives us confidence."

Meanwhile, things don't get easier for Trumbull, which faces FCIAC West leader Westhill on Wednesday.

“It’s a quiet locker room tonight,” Eagles coach Buddy Bray said. "We’re still pretty much a young team, and we’re fighting through a tough stretch right now.  I thought we played pretty good.  We just need to get a little tougher mentally.  We’re trying to keep things positive and not get down."