Wilton Boys Basketball Wins In Overtime

The Wilton boys basketball team rallied for a thrilling 64-60 overtime victory over New Canaan on Friday night, giving the Warriors their first FCIAC win of the season.

Ian Ross scored 20 points to pace Wilton, which improved to 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the FCIAC. Matt Reyes-Guerra-Dunn added 19 points  for the Warriors and Jackson Wilbur contributed 16.

The Warriors appeared  to have the contest won late in regulation, but New Canaan's Scott O'Brien hit two 3-pointers in the final 18 seconds to force overtime.  The second came with six seconds left while O'Brien was falling out of bounds.   

A missed free throw by Wilton gave New Canaan (3-6, 2-5) a last chance to tie the game, which the Rams did with the last ditch shot.

New Canaan scored first in overtime, hitting a 3-pointer, and held a 58-57 lead with 1:31 left, when a layup by Guerra-Dunn put Wilton ahead,  59-58.

Shots by Ian Ross and Guerra-Dunn extended the Warriors' lead to 64-59 and sealed the win.

The game was notable for the number of 3-pointers made, with Wilton hitting seven and New Canaan eight.

With six minutes left and the score tied 37-37, the two teams raced back and forth,  exchanging 3-pointers . The contest also was tied at 40-40, 43-43 and 45-45.

Both teams started out slow, turning the ball over repeatedly and missing shots, but in the second quarter New Canaan went on a run to take a 25-12 lead.

Wilton fought back to narrow the gap to 25-21 at halftime, and pulled ahead 28-27 in the third quarter. New Canaan regained the lead and stretched it to 37-30.

 “When we needed it, we hit ‘em,”  Wilton coach Tim Tallcouch said.

According to Talcouch, the key to the game was Guerra-Dunn's defense as he held New Canaan senior Chris Rama scoreless.

“Rama was averaging 18 points a game but scored zero tonight,” Tallcouch said. “Our team showed character today. It was a nice win.”