Wildcats Upend First Place Lancers

After struggling in their conference earlier this season, the Bethel High boys basketball team certainly made a statement Friday night. The Wildcats (12-4, 6-4) dominated Notre Dame-Fairfield early, and finished strong to beat the Lancers 71-61, handing them their first SWC loss of the year.

“That’s a huge win, they don’t get much bigger than that,” Coach Ray Turek said.

Alex Barry gave the Wildcats an early lead when he connected on two three pointers and added a layup, to account for eight of the team’s first 10 points.

“That was huge early because they had their center guarding him,” Turek said. “When he hit those, their center had to go out, and that opened things up in the middle. That’s how we scored a lot of our early points, on back cuts and in the paint, because he had to extend out on Alex.”

With Barry forcing the Lancers to spread their defense, Zach Bangs was able to get free down low, and scored three straight baskets for the Wildcats, to push their lead to 18-5.

The Lancers closed out the first with a pair of threes to go into the second quarter down 21-13, but with Bangs adding eight more points, the Wildcats were able to take a 41-26 lead into the half.

“The thing about the fast start is, it gives you a little bit of cushion because they are a very explosive team,” Turek said. “We knew they could shoot, we knew they get out in transition as well as anybody in the league, so we knew they’d have a run.”

When the second half began, it was as if two completely different teams came out of the locker rooms. The Wildcats were a little slow in the offensive zone and were forced into 10 turnovers, while the Lancers found their rhythm and were able to cut into Bethel’s lead.

Notre Dame outscored the Wildcats 23-11 in the third, and were within three before Jon Byrnes scored late to make it 54-49 heading into the fourth.

“They’re a good pressure team, and our cuts were a little on the slow side,” Turek said. “We got a little rattled, there’s no doubt we got a little rattled. The guys did a good job regrouping, focusing, making crisper cuts and getting to the right spots.”

Bethel struck first in the fourth, when Barry hit his fourth three of the night. A pair of free throws from Daniel Garvin gave the Wildcats a 59-52 lead with 4:29 remaining.

Notre Dame scored five straight points to make it 59-57, but the Wildcats, went 13-for-16 from the line in the closing minutes to secure the win. Garvin led the charge, going 8-for-8 from the line, and finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

“Once he made his first one we knew that he was set to go, that’s the way it is with him,” Turek said. “It’s impressive to be able to go to the line in the fourth quarter and make free throws. Hopefully going forward he builds upon situations like this, and he knows that he has the capability to do that.”

Barry finished with four threes, and a team high 18 points. Bangs finished with 14 points and five rebounds, while Ryan Conroy added 13 points and five assists. Byrnes rounded out the balanced scoring attack with 10 points, and had four rebounds and four assists.

“They make all five guys touch the ball,” Turek said. “We shared the ball well, and every guy really contributed. That’s what you have to do to beat a team like that.”

The Wildcats will look to build on their win when they travel to Brookfield High for another SWC matchup on Tuesday at 7 p.m.