Sophomore Victor Payne scored 8 of Cromwell’s 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Panthers turned back Morgan 60-50 Monday night to remain undefeated.
The Panthers’ Shoreline Conference win at Jake Salafia Gymnasium was their 16th of the season and puts the team ever closer to clinching the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Shoreline Conference tournament.
“Great team win tonight,” Cromwell coach John Pinone said.
Payne, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, drilled a 3-pointer midway through the final quarter to give Cromwell a 53-42 lead over the Huskies.
After a low-post basket by Morgan center Connor Duffy got the Huskies within nine again, Payne responded with a jumper from 15 feet. Cooper Galdenzi’s deep 3-pointer cut the deficit to seven, but that was the closest Morgan would get in the final minutes.
A 3-pointer from Payne, who was fed by Gianluca Albert, from just in front of Cromwell’s bench restored the lead to double digits at 58-48 with 2:20 to go. The Panthers were able to break Morgan’s full-court pressure and not turn the ball over in sealing the outcome.
Albert led all scorers with 20 points and also had 8 assists and 6 rebounds. JJ Feehan added 11 for the Panthers, who visit Valley Regional on Tuesday.
Drew Nye’s 16 points led the Huskies. Galdenzi scored 12 and Alex Fratamico contributed 10.
MORGAN (11-6)
Drew Nye 6 3-4 16, Cooper Galdenzi 5 0-0 12, Tim McComiskey 0 0-0 0, Alex Fratamico 3 4-5 10, Connor Duffy 4 0-0 8, Cam Johnson 0 2-2 2, Eddie Dwake 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 9-11 50.
CROMWELL (16-0)
Gianluca Albert 6 7-8 20, Louis Friend 0 2-2 2, Victor Payne 6 0-0 14, JJ Feehan 5 0-1 11, Jake Salafia 4 0-0 10, Luke Gagnon 1 0-0 3, Sam Stergos 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 9-11 60.
Score By Quarters
Morgan…..21 6 11 12–50
Cromwell..17 13 18 12–60
3-pointers: Morgan–Galdenzi 2, Nye 1; Cromwell–Payne 2, Albert 1, Feehan 1, Gagnon 1.
Up next: Morgan at H-K, Tuesday, 7; Cromwell at Valley Regional, Tuesday, 7.
In other boys basketball games Monday:
Old Saybrook 68, Montville 59
OLD SAYBROOK (11-5)
Wes Nobile 1 0-0 2, Jake Butler 4 0-0 9, Riley Lawson 5 1-2 12, Ryan Stratton 5 2-2 15, Aaron Tolve 7 4-4 19, Bradley Kulmann 3 0-0 7, Ajdin Cecunjanin 2 0-0 4, Brayden Cody 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 7-8 68.
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MONTVILLE (4-12)
Lebron Maurice 7 0-2 19, Bernard Hawkins 4 1-3 9, Anthony Barhoff 4 0-0 10, Chas Terri 7 1-2 15, Tyler Howard 2 1-1 5, Miles Sorimento 0 1-2 1. 24 3-8 59.
Score By Quarters
Old Saybrook…18 11 21 18–68
Montville……….16 15 16 12–59
3-pointers: Old Saybrook–Stratton 3, Tolve 1, Butler 1, Lawson 1, Kulmann 1; Montville–Maurice 5, Barhoff 2.
Up next: Old Saybrook at Old Lyme, Tuesday, 5.