The Conard boys basketball team was defeated by Simsbury 51-48 in West Hartford on Tuesday night.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Scott Sulkazi

The Conard Red Wolves fell to the Simsbury Trojans on Tuesday night, 51-48, in a tightly-contested matchup that remained close from start to finish. Despite several strong scoring runs, costly lapses in discipline proved to be the difference for Conard.

The Red Wolves opened the game with energy, scoring the first five points on a layup from Cory Brown and a 3-pointer by Ryan Peabody. Simsbury answered to cut the lead to 5-4, but Amir Hughes converted one of two free throws to make it 6-4. After Simsbury briefly took the lead, Shane Morris responded with a rebound and drive to the basket. Morris later knocked down a 3-pointer to give Conard an 11-9 advantage. However, Simsbury closed the quarter on a run, taking a 12-11 lead at the end of the first period.

Conard struggled to find rhythm early in the second quarter, allowing the Trojans to extend their lead to 19-11. Dominic Burgos ended the drought with a layup, making it 19-13.

After another Simsbury push, Morris scored on a drive to cut the deficit to 22-15, then followed with a 3-pointer after a Simsbury triple to make it 25-20. Peabody added another 3 to bring Conard within four at 27-23. Jack Faenza later connected from beyond the arc, and Simsbury carried a 31-26 lead into halftime.

Hughes opened the third quarter with a layup, but Simsbury answered to extend the lead. Faenza finished inside to make it 37-30 before Hughes sparked a run, scoring two layups and a 3-pointer to pull Conard within two at 37-35. After Simsbury scored again, Hughes drew a foul and converted at the line. Morris followed with another strong drive, cutting the deficit to 42-39 at the end of the third.

In the final period, James O’Sullivan drilled a 3-pointer to make it 45-42. Morris answered once again with a layup to bring Conard within one. Faenza provided a key defensive stop with a breakup on a Simsbury drive, but the Trojans executed late and held on for a 51-48 victory.

Conard (5-7) will travel across West Hartford on Friday to face Division I Northwest Catholic (8-2), and on Monday the Division II Red Wolves will host Cromwell, a Division IV team with a 12-0 record.

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