NEWTOWN — Masuk High’s boys basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit late in the first half and defeated host Newtown 61-58 on Tuesday night.
Mitch DeBernardo scored 21 points, had five assists, grabbed five rebounds and had a pair of steals. Alex Simoulidis also dropped in 21 points to go along with two assists and two steals.
Oliver Irving had six points, four assists, five rebounds and three steals. Saijon Gavin scored five points, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out two assists. Chris Welch scored four points, had two rebounds and provided great defense.
Stephen Sentementes logged two points and three assists to go along with a great defensive effort. Jaylen Africot scored two points and came away with a steal. Jayden Cassese contributed two assists and one rebound.
The game was even at 17 apiece after one quarter with DeBernardo hitting one of his two 3-pointers in the opening stanza to beat the buzzer. Newtown pulled ahead 36-26 and Simoulidis drained one of his four 3-pointers in the game just before time expired to end the half. That sparked an 11-0 run as the Panthers seized the lead early in the third.
Masuk and Newtown were tied at 45 apiece late in the third when Simoulidis scored five points in short order just before the end of the period, capping the scoring after Masuk’s press caused a turnover. It was 50-45 Panthers headed into the fourth.
The Panthers led by as many as seven points in the final quarter, but trailed 53-52 with about five minutes left before a 7-0 run, capped by another Simoulidis 3, made it 59-53. The Panthers closed things out with Gavin and Irving hitting late free throws.
Masuk Coach Pete Szklarz thought his team stepped it up in the second half after being a bit passive in the opening two quarters. Turnover-causing defense and good ball movement led to the second-half success.
“We attacked the zone and got good looks,” Szklarz said.
Masuk bounced back from a 68-58 loss to New Fairfield on Friday and improved to 7-2 overall. The Panthers will visit Kolbe Cathedral on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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