MONROE, CT — Trailing in the final half-minute of play, Masuk High’s boys basketball team came back and then held on for an exciting 48-47 win over visiting Darien on Tuesday night.
Masuk trailed 47-46 with 24 seconds left. Darien missed a front end one and one free throw attempt, Matt Domenichelli tapped the rebound out and Dylan Jackson chased it down and went in for a layup. Jackson was fouled and hit both free throws to put Masuk up by a point with 12 seconds left.
Darien called a timeout to set up a good look. The Blue Wave missed but a Masuk foul on a tip in attempt gave the visitors some last-seconds hope. Darien missed both free throws and the Panthers got to the rebound as time ran out.
Tyler Newsom had 12 points, including a 6-for-6 performance at the foul line, and grabbed seven rebounds. Jackson had 11 points and six rebounds. Domenichelli registered nine points and six rebounds.
Greg Nivison scored six points. Both Jackson and Nivison hit a pair of 3-pointers.
Masuk’s offense clicked early with 20 points in the first quarter and a dozen more in the second. The Panthers scored 14 of their 16 second-half points in the fourth.
The Panthers improved to 4-2 and will visit Stratford Thursday at 7 p.m. Masuk returns home Monday, Jan. 9, to play Joel Barlow, also at 7.
