Trumbull High School’s varsity boys basketball team visited Greenwich High School on Jan. 28th sporting a 12-0 record with convincing, double-digit wins against most of its opponents. Yet the Eagles were pushed to the absolute limit against the upset-minded Cardinals, who were in prime position to deal the visitors their first loss of the season.

Greenwich held a five-point lead on Trumbull following the first quarter, led by one point in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hang on, as the Eagles continued their undefeated season.

Senior guard/captain Sandro Scott scored a game-high 25 points for Greenwich in its tough, 57-54 loss to Trumbull in a midseason FCIAC game. After being edged by the Eagles, the Cardinals traveled to Darien and were victorious in decisive fashion, 78-60. For the season, Greenwich has a record of 3-5 in the FCIAC and is 4-6 overall. The Cardinals know they must string together victories to qualify for the eight-team FCIAC Tournament once the regular season ends.

In Greenwich’s home game against Trumbull, junior forward Oliver Frisoli chipped in 17 points with three 3-pointers, complementing Scott well in the scoring department. Greenwich led Trumbull, 16-11, after the first quarter, trailed 28-25, at halftime and faced a slim 43-39 deficit following three quarters of play.

“I feel we always come out strong in the first quarter,” said Scott, who poured in 20 second-half points. “I feel like if we can continue to capitalize in the second, third and fourth quarter, we can keep leads on teams.”

The Cardinals received points from eight players, with Scott and Frisoli accounting for 42 of the squad’s 57 points.

“We thought that we came out hot like we normally do in the first quarter and got after it,” GHS first-season coach Alexander Sirena said. “We faltered there a little bit in the second, it was our lowest scoring quarter. We let Trumbull get back in it. It was a tight game down the stretch. Close games are won or lost at the free throw line and unfortunately, we didn’t take care of business there.”

Greenwich shot 4 of 13 from the foul line for the game, while Trumbull converted 14 of its 19 free throws. The Cardinals’ halfcourt offense was efficient throughout, enabling them to receive solid shots against the Eagles’ man-to-man defense.

“We’re definitely running our sets better,” Sirena said. “Trumbull plays very athletic, incredible defense, so the fact that we’re able to run our sets through them is a good sign for our offense.”

Senior Sean Wilson scored a team-best 20 points with three 3-point shots for the Eagles, who are a perfect 14-0 on the season and 9-0 in the FCIAC. A 3-pointer by Tuhaise gave Trumbull a 41-33 lead in the third quarter. Scott swished a 3-point shot from the top of the key and shortly after, senior guard Jayden Zych nailed a 3-pointer, bringing GHS to within, 43-39, which is how the third quarter ended.

JP Phillips, a senior guard, scored, cutting the Eagles’ edge to 43-41 early in the fourth quarter. Later in the final quarter, senior Josh Reed drove the baseline for a layup and was fouled. He made the ensuing free throw, putting Trumbull on top, 47-44. After the Cards made a foul shot, Scott nailed a long 3-pointer from the left side, giving Greenwich a 48-47 lead and exciting the crowd.

“I had a rough first half, but I think my team did a good job of keeping us in it and fighting for me,” said Scott, who found his shooting touch in the second half.

The Cardinals played without the services of 6-foot-7 starting center Michael Golden, who was out sick. Therefore, they knew they had to aggressively crash the defensive and offensive backboards.

“We were playing aggressive and I think we did a good job,” Scott noted. We surprised ourselves and we have to keep fighting. Definitely the intensity and defense helped us, also trusting each other. But other than that, we’ve just been working hard all week in practice.”

Wilson drove the middle of lane, Wilson threw down a dunk, giving putting Trumbull up, 49-48, late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 51-48 with under three minutes left to play, Greenwich knotted the score when Scott made a left-handed layup while being fouled. He made the ensuing foul shot, evening the score at 51-51 with 1:52 remaining.

A layup off a spin move by Wilson put the Eagles on top for good at 53-51. Trumbull was ahead, 55-51, after Wilson made a pair of free throws at the 1:11 mark of the final quarter. Frisoli buried a 3-pointer from the left wing, pulling the hosts to within 55-54 with 7.5 seconds left to play, but the Eagles hung on for the win.

“I think we shot pretty well,” Scott said. “We definitely cut down on the amount of 3s we’ve been taking and took it to the basket more and that kept us in the game.”

Phillips, senior forward Mason Jones, junior guard Tyler Bell and senior guard Leo Omelich scored two points apiece and Zych scored three points for Greenwich.

Reed scored 12 points and teammate Jaden Tuhaise, a senior, had 11 points for Trumbull.

“If we can play like this the rest of our games to come, we can be a pretty good contender,” Sirena said. “Defensively, I thought we went and we guarded one of the best offensive teams in the conference. They’re undefeated and we held them to a one possession game.”

Greenwich rebounded well from its tight loss to Trumbull, upending Darien, 78-60, on Jan. 30th at Darien. Up next for GHS is road game against FCIAC opponent Stamford on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. The Cards will then host conference foe Danbury on Feb. 6, also at 7 p.m.

“We’re still optimistic for our season,” Sirena said. “If they can play like this our next eight games, I like us to win a lot of them.”

“We definitely have to do good in these next eight games,” Scott said. “I think we can go 8-0 and make FCIACs and get a run in.”