By Marty St. George
Despite leading for much of the game, New Canaan’s 5th-grade girls lost 18-15 in the last two seconds of their game Friday night against Wilton.
The game started as a defensive battle until Quinn McKiernan opened up the scoring with a basket after a steal. Holly Knight followed with another steal, but New Canaan was unable to convert. Wilton scored twice to bring the game to 4-2. Strong defense by Brynne Harris kept New Canaan close, but they ended the first quarter down by a pair.
The second quarter also opened with strong defense, including exceptional rebounding by Olivia West and Cameron Murphy. Elizabeth St. George opened up the scoring with a jumper from the paint, followed by another jumper by McKiernan, bringing the score to 6-4. Strong ball movement by Murphy helped keep New Canaan in control but Wilton scored twice and took back the lead. A rebound by Julia Bazata led to another basket by St. George to tie the game. Strong offensive rebounding by McKiernan and Harris led to another St. George jumper to take the lead. Strong pressure by Knight and St. George kept Wilton from converting and New Canaan went into halftime leading 10-8.
Wilton came out strong in the third but strong defense kept them from scoring. A defensive rebound by St. George led to a long pass to McKiernan and a basket, and New Canaan increased their lead to 12-8. Most of the quarter was dominated by strong defense by St. George, Bazata, Marlee Smith and Olivia West, but Wilton was able to pull within 1 by the end of the quarter.
Wilton opened the final quarter with a basket, but Smith tied the game with a key free-throw. Strong defense by both teams (including a steal by Chloe West) kept the score unchanged, but Wilton took the lead 15-13 in the last minute of the quarter. St. George was fouled with less than 20 seconds left. She converted a pair clutch free-throws to tie the game, but a New Canaan foul in the last five seconds let to a Wilton foul shot plus an offensive rebound, and Wilton pulled out a 18-15 victory.
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