Cardinals soar over FCIAC basketball foe Westhill behind 25 points from Matt Maloney, 18 from Sandro Scott

By David Fierro on February 17, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Greenwich junior Sandro Scott poured in 18 points in a 60-42 win over Westhill High School.

With the postseason on the horizon and Senior Night coming up, Greenwich High’s boys basketball team is rounding into top form, as its recent opponents have certainly witnessed.

The Cardinals have won three games in a row and have been victorious in six of their last seven matchups heading into tonight’s 7 p.m. showdown against FCIAC rival Fairfield Warde. Greenwich, which has an overall record of 10-8 and an 8-5 mark in the FCIAC, is in sixth place in the conference with two regular season games remaining.

The top six teams qualify for the rapidly approaching FCIAC Tournament and the Cardinals are determined to make their presence felt in the postseason. Greenwich showed another sign that it’s playing its best basketball this past Friday when it hosted conference foe Westhill High School.

Seizing the lead late in the first quarter, Greenwich used a 25-point effort from senior guard Matt Maloney, and an 18-point performance from junior guard/forward Sandro Scott to upend visiting Westhill, 60-42. The Cardinals followed up victory over the Vikings, by traveling to non-conference opponent Newtown High School on Saturday and posted a 54-51 triumph.

**Photo by David Fierro:** Cardinals senior Matt Maloney, right, looks to move the ball during a 60-42 win against Westhill.

In Friday’s 60-42 win against Westhill, GHS held an 18-11 lead after the first quarter, before going into halftime with 32-21 advantage. The Cards efficiently passed the ball in order to get open shots versus the Vikings’ zone and man-to-man defenses.

“Going into the game, we knew they were going to play a little zone against us,” Maloney said. “In the beginning of the game, we found our shots and we knocked them down.”

Maloney poured in 16 first-half points and swished two 3-point shots for the game. Scott scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half.

“We thought they were going to start off in zone, but we fed off Matt Maloney when they played man and he found the guys and we beat them that way,” Scott said.

Photo by David Fierro: Members of the Greenwich High School varsity boys basketball team gather around their coaching staff during a home game against Westhill High School on Feb. 14, 2025. The Cardinals won the game, 60-42.

Senior guard Oliver Suppo added to Greenwich’s stellar backcourt production. Suppo scored 10 points and converted two 3-pointers. He was sidelined with an injury for most of the season and yet returned to action five games ago. He’s provided a spark and extra boost to the squad since his return.

“I’ll admit, at first it was a little nerve-wracking,” Suppo said of rejoining the team after missing so many games. “I had to gain an understanding of the plays. Slowly, I got my minutes, now I’m starting.”

Blake Martin, a senior guard/forward, had four points, while senior guard Guy Germain added two points in the winning effort.

Westhill (5-8 FCIAC, 8-10 overall) led 7-2 to start this FCIAC matchup, but GHS took the lead for good behind a pivotal 12-0 run. Maloney and Martin converted layups, Maloney made a 3-point shot from the top of the key, then drove left for a layup, giving the hosts a 14-7 lead.

Greenwich High junior Sandro Scott gets ready to take a foul shot during an FCIAC varsity game vs. Westhill High School.

Westhill received 10 points from Justin Marcial and nine points from guard Daquan Turner. Germain’s leaner in the lane just before the buzzer sounded, put GHS on top, 18-11, after the first quarter. Trailing 20-11, the Vikings pulled to within 20-16 with five straight points, but Greenwich finished the second quarter with a 12-5 spurt, taking a 32-21 edge into halftime.

A Suppo 3-pointer from the top of the key and a Maloney layup off a hard drive to the basket gave the Cardinals a comfortable 38-23 advantage at the 6:02 mark of the second quarter.

“This is a great win, we needed that to get a better record in FCIACs,” Martin said. “It’s a huge win going into the playoffs and we’re just hoping we can continue this streak. We’re getting better each day.”

Photo by David Fierro: Greenwich High’s Oliver Suppo, right, looks to pass the ball against Westhill.

The home team outscored the Vikings 17-10 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 49-31 going into the final quarter of play.

“In the past the third quarter has been kind of rocky,” Maloney noted. “At practice, a key point for us has been executing in that third quarter and we did that tonight.”

Maloney also mentioned the significance of Suppo’s presence on the court.

Greenwich’s Sandro Scott drives the lane during FCIAC varsity boys basketball action against visiting Westhill High School.

“Suppo, he brings great energy,” Maloney said. “Even when he was hurt, he brought great energy to the team, so to get him on the court is great for our season moving forward.”

“All-around, the offense is good,” Suppo added. “I’m getting the flow back.”