Bridgeport Central Defeats Staples in Season Opener

The season opener for the Wreckers didn't go as planned.

Staples fell to the Bridgeport Central Hilltoppers 83-38.

Wreckers coach Colin Devine was disappointed at the team's loss.

"Our inexperience proved to hurt us in the long run of this game," Devine said. "We really struggled rebounding the basketball."

Without Joe Kestenbaum and Andre Oztemel, who graduated last year, the Wreckers lack of rebounding hurt them.

"We're inexperienced at the forward and center positions," Devine said. "This team is used to having Kestenbaum and Oztemel grab all the rebounds."

In the first quarter, both teams came out sluggish, and the Wreckers put themselves in trouble with too many fouls, which sent them into the penalty early in the second quarter, giving the Hilltoppers easy points at the free throw line.

Having to sub players in and out to avoid further foul troubles, the Wreckers were unable to get into a rhythm on offense and seemed to be forcing too many passes that led to costly turnovers.

Captain Brendan Rankowitz agreed.

"This team rebounded well, played hard on defense and came out with a lot of intensity," he said.

In the second quarter, the Wreckers had three turnovers to start their beginning series of possessions. Rankowitz said this was due to the Hilltoppers mix of team speed and athleticism.

That speed proved to be too much for the Wreckers' defense. During the second quarter, the Hilltoppers scored on many fast break points.

For the Wreckers, junior Frank Bergonzi led the way with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field.

The rest of the team struggled to convert on free throws. Shooting no better than 60 percent from the free throw line proved to be a contributing factor to the Wreckers' loss.

Since many of the Wreckers' shots were not falling from the foul line and beyond, the Wreckers tried to pound it inside, which proved ineffective.

"This Central team is definitely a contender," Devine said,"they are returning a lot if not all of their star players. They came ready to play and what we can take out of this game is we need to work twice as hard if we are going to keep pace in the FCIAC."

The Wreckers face Fairfield Warde Saturday at Staples High.

Before the game, the Staples football team, soccer team, robotics team, the school paper Inklings, the Moody's academic team, the Staples Players and WWPT-FM radio were honored for their recent accomplishments.

At halftime, student Chester Pajolek made a 3-point shot to win two Giants tickets.