Hamden Edges Cheshire Boys' Basketball

Cheshire had two chances in the last 47 seconds to catch a Hamden team it had been chasing all night. The Rams outplayed Hamden in the fourth quarter of their Southern Connecticut Conference boys' basketball game and finally had the Green Dragons in their sights.

Down two points, the first opportunity came after a Hamden turnover and saw Justin Zovas miss a 12-footer in the lane. Hamden's Anthony Lucky got the rebound, was fouled and after he sank one free throw, the Rams got once more chance but Zovas' 3-pointer bounced tantalizingly around the rim and didn't fall.

Richard Kennedy sank two free throws for Hamden with 3.6 seconds left to secure a 51-46 inter-division victory for the Dragons Tuesday night at Cheshire High School.

"The game was just too many second opportunities for them," Cheshire coach Dan Lee said. "For a team that we were bigger than, they got a couple of rebounds in the fourth quarter and transitioned it into two points. With a young team, they've got to learn we're going to have a lot of close games this year. Our goal is to be in the game the last four minutes. That's one hurdle to overcome, but the next one is you've got to know how to close the deal. Close the door on the other team."

Utilizing its team speed and quickness, Hamden (1-2) took an 18-12 lead after the first quarter behind 10 points from Lucky (game-high 20 points, 11 rebounds). Cheshire senior captain Max Bailey (team-high 16 points) kept the Rams (0-3) within reach with eight points, including two of his four three-pointers.

The Dragons stretched the lead to 29-20 at halftime after going on a 9-3 down the stretch of the second quarter, with Lucky adding four of his 16 first-half points.

With all three of his big men hurting, Lee used his bench extensively rotating in big men Justin Kubelus, Zovas and starter Sebastian Little and also liberally substituted his guards. In the third quarter Lee inserted 6-foot-9 junior Nate Howard for the first time. He changed the complexion of the game.

Howard scored six points, altered numerous shots on defense blocking two and making one steal.

"I heard this is the best and the most (Howard) had played," Hamden coach Jarrad Beck said. "It's a shame that it had to come against us. When he gets into game shape and game speed, he's going to be a force for them because of their perimeter play and you have to contest their shooters."

Cheshire cut what had been a seven-point Hamden lead after three quarters to 48-46 on two Howard baskets inside sandwiched around Greg Leonetti's driving layup and a Leonetti (10 points) three with 3:11 left. After that, neither team scored until the final minute of play when the Dragons sank their three decisive free throws.

"We're limited where our strengths are quickness and athleticism and our deficiencies are height and some of the sets they were running just put us in predicaments that were hard for us to defend," Beck said. "You have to credit them. Those were makeable shots (at the end Cheshire) could have made, so the game could have went either way."

For the Rams it was a loss in a very tough early season schedule, which has included Fairfield Prep and preseason No. 1 Hillhouse-New Haven.

"We showed our inexperience at times and that hurt," Lee said. "But that's part of the learning process. Against a very athletic team, every mistake, they're going to capitalize on it. You learn a lesson and you try not to repeat it. Maybe this is the last game that we offer those second and third opportunities. A lot of people said coming into the game 'Well all three of our bigs are hurt.' But you've got to play with who you have and adapt to the situations."