The Game We've Been Waiting For

Cassidy Nash

PrideTime Reporter 

As they walk onto the court, the team is full of excitement for the classic rivalry game; angry from Saikwon’s ejection at the New Canaan game which many may say cost the team their win and another loss against the worst team in the western division of the FCIAC, Westhill, which, hopefully, will give them enough fuel to crush Norwalk High. ​

The game started off with Norwalk High scoring two two-pointers within the first two minutes, leaving McMahon at the edge of their seats, wondering why the worst team in the Eastern Division of the FCIAC was beating them 4-0.

“I know going into a lot of games I’m the main focus to other teams so I used that as an advantage and play off of my teammates to help me and them be successful” (Saikwon Williams ’19).

By the end of the first quarter, The High was winning 10-4, shocking everybody in the stands and hoping that we could muster up a great comeback.

“One problem with our team is we tend to play to the level of our competition whether it is the best team in the state or one of the worst” (Jack Fitspatrick ’20).

McMahon came back, hungry to win. Michael Fuller (‘19) drains a three-pointer bringing the score to 9-10. The game continued to bounce back and forth, giving each team a two-point lead at some point in time, with seven fouls each at the end of the second quarter, they were tied 23-23.  
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“I had a hard time scoring the ball so I had to find others ways to help my team and offense putbacks was my game that night” said Williams.

It was at the turn of the second half of the game when the senators started to communicate and play as a team. Points were coming in left and right and they started to gain a lead with Norwalk High falling behind.

​At the end of the third quarter, McMahon finally had the lead with a score of 39-36, but was it enough? To pull out a win McMahon would need to stay strong and push through their difficulties.

“I definitely think we need to do a better job of moving the ball and ourselves in the half court” said Fitspatrick. 

For the majority of the fourth quarter, the senators were on a roll and with three minutes to go the score was 49-43 and a win was in the future. 

 With three-pointers coming from both teams, the lead started to disappear. Key players like Justin Lebron made a lasting impact towards the team's success in the final minutes, and seconds, of the game.
Williams added; “I think Jajuan Wiggins and Latrel Stewart were our key players. Jajuan did a great job at attacking and controlling the flow of the game. He played a solid all-around game. Latrel Stewart was in foul trouble early but he didn’t let that affect him despite missing the whole second quarter. He came in and did a fantastic job on the boards and creating for his team.”

​With only 51 seconds remaining, McMahon was in the lead 53-47, but Norwalk hit let another three and put McMahon in danger of losing to yet another bottom of the table team. This fueled the team to make a breakaway and scored two more two pointers with 20 seconds left.

With the end of the game closing in and McMahon in the lead by seven points, it was all looking good until there was an injury on the court that stopped the game for about a five-minute break in the middle of the quarter. McMahon got the ball once it started back up again and luckily, they were able to score another two-pointer, giving them a hard-earned win against their biggest rival: Norwalk High.

“Yes we still won but the game was way closer than it should have been and we let them hang around with us for too long.” (Fitzpatrick ‘20)