For the second time in as many games this season, the Wilton High boys basketball team got out to an early double-digit lead, cruising to an 80-50 win over Greenwich on Friday night at the Zeoili Field House.
The Warriors (2-0) had a 6-0 lead, and, before you knew it, they were up 12-3. And by the end of the first quarter, Wilton had a 25-14 lead. The only thing keeping it that close was the Cardinals hitting four three-pointers in the period.
All five of Wilton’s starters scored in the first eight minutes of the game, led by Matt Shifrin and Lucas Savoie. Savoie, who had 10 rebounds in the game, had two-put back baskets in the period.
Greenwich scored the first four points of the second quarter to draw to within seven at 25-18, but Savoie and Shifrin stayed hot for the home team, which took a 20-point lead, 46-26, into halftime. Shifrin finished the first half with 19 points and Savoie had 10 points. And Shifrin missed part of the period, as the Wilton trainer worked on his ankle.
According to head coach Joel Geriak, the Warriors are looking to play an up-tempo brand of basketball this year — with nearly 50 points in the first two quarters, the plan appears to be working just as Geriak laid it out.
“We want to push the ball up the court and see what we can create; we have a deep bench, so I feel we have the players to do so,” said Geriak. “That doesn’t mean rush up the floor and force the play. The team works hard and they trust each other. They have been playing together for quite a while and it shows as they play as a cohesive group.”
Wilton had everything working at both ends of the floor: On offense, great organized ball movement, unselfish play, hustle for loose balls and rebounds; on defense, quick speed at the top of the key that forced Greenwich to pass over the Wilton defenders and slow the Cardinals’ play.
Wilton kept its foot on the gas in the third quarter, as the lead grew to 59-37 by quarter’s end, ensuring no comeback by the visitors. Shifrin closed the third quarter with two steals and converted them into two layup baskets.
Geriak took out most of his starters in the final quarter, as the Cardinals couldn’t get closer than 18 points. Sophomore Matt Kronenberg came off the bench for the Warriors and scored the final 11 points of the game.
Shifrin and Savoie, who didn’t see the court in the fourth quarter, finished with 25 and 16 points, respectively. Kronenberg added 13 points, as the Warriors got scoring from nine players.
Shifrin drained three three-pointers and the team was 14 of 21 from the foul line.
Miles Elmasry chipped in with six rebounds, and Richie William had five assists for the Warriors.
“We are a group of unselfish players,” said Shifrin. “We play together as a team and we have great chemistry. We have fun playing together as a team and we all know what our roles are. We play with confidence and we have each other’s back.”