The Hall boys basketball team hosted fellow West Hartford team Northwest Catholic on Tuesday night, stunning the Division I Lions with a 73-72 win.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Liv Varellas. Photos by Jackson Tucker

From the opening tip-off to the half-court buzzer-beater, Tuesday night’s Hall vs. Northwest Catholic game was a back-and-forth battle that kept both benches and fans on edge. 

Hall’s Maxwell St. Arromond won the opening tip-off against Northwest Catholic’s Tommy Rushin, setting the tone for what would become a fast-paced and competitive game. 

Senior Aiden Delaney put the first two points on the board with an easy layup, followed by one out of two free throws from teammate Isaiah Gaston, allowing Hall to establish an early presence on the scoreboard.

Despite the tensions on the court, the sportsmanship between teams was evident. St. Arromond was quick to help players off the floor after collisions, demonstrating the respect between the rival teams, even in times of heated competition.

Northwest remained composed despite falling short early, and No. 4 Drew Dargati, a player who made his presence known through the night, put up their first points 52 seconds in the game. On the defensive end, Northwest’s Tyler Uveges controlled the paint, dominating rebounds and utilizing his height to create scoring opportunities for the Lions. The Lions quickly learned to take advantage of Hall’s struggles when transitioning to offense, pushing the ball through fast break sequences down the court off quick rebounds.

Northwest’s Cooper Steele drained the first 3-pointer off a full court pass from Uveges, who swung the ball to Dargati waiting around the arc. The play ended with the ball in Steele’s hands, who was able to make contact with the net, giving the Lions a 7-5 lead. 

Continuing through the first quarter, Northwest’s use of screens as an offensive tactic left Hall’s defense confused, opening spots for shooters around the arc. Dargati caught fire from beyond this line, leading the quarter with 11 points and giving Northwest an 18-14 lead to end an intense 8 minutes.

Hall started to find their rhythm in the second quarter. Delaney scored within the first minute to reclaim the lead. And the Titans showed strong teamwork on defense. When Tim O’Brein lost his player at half court, Delaney and Lincoln Bush were quick to double the play and stop the ball. The game remained close, Hall struggled to finish when faced with Northwest’s size and communication in the paint.

Senior Eli Kramer stayed quiet until halftime came near, when he powered through the Lions’ defense to score a layup – silencing his opponents, and tightening the game. Titan teammate Delaney followed the speed of the game, with two deep 3-pointers from outside the arc, and a free throw, within the same minute. His flow forced Northwest into shambles, and they called a timeout. The remaining time left in the quarter was fueled by the benches of both teams, who brought consistent energy for those on the court.

Hall forced a turnover with a strong double team that pushed Dargati out of bounds. The ball was recovered to Bush, a junior, who scored clutch 3-pointer from the right corner. The court has not seen much of Bush all year, but this play sent Hall into halftime with an 8-point lead and definitely created a name for the kid.

The third quarter opened with a Hall turnover. Northwest stepped into the half as a new team, seemingly more synced and energized than before. Hall adjusted with ease, however, as Nico Gilbert intercepted a pass and got the ball to Delaney, who tightened the score 43-40 from a layup. 

The game’s intensity escalated when Gaston and Uveges had a physical exchange in the paint, which had been marinating all game. The contact broke out after Uveges fouled Gaston, as he was attempting a layup under the net, highlighting how competitive the match had become, and how important any contact with the hoop was.

Delaney continued to lead offensively through patience while playmaking and control of the ball with his advanced handles. Leading on the scoreboard with 21 points halfway through the quarter. Teammate Gilbert was not far behind, drilling back-to-back 3-pointers to give hall a 54-47 lead, energizing the crowd and hushing Northwest’s bench.

The Lions refused to back down, as Dargati hit a 3-pointer late in the quarter, tightening the score, and triggering a series of aggressive rebounds to give Northwest a mental push back in the game. By the end of the third, Hall clung to a 54-48 lead, with both teams locked in for this last chance to establish who runs this town.

Kramer opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. Thinking he set the stage for the half, Dargati quickly humbled the Titans when he answered right back with a 3-pointer of his own. It was a standout performance that allowed him to lead not only his team, but the game with 28 points. 

This late in the game, every possession was critical. Hall was smart with their plays, holding the ball until opportunities became available. Gaston pushed the ball in a transition to Delaney for a layup, extending Hall’s cushion to 6 points. 

The Titans shouldn’t have been looking too far ahead, because Northwest stayed close. Junior Sebastian Cotte, dressed in black and green, knocked an easy 3 with three minutes left to keep the game close.

The Lion’s effort was present, but Hall’s defense was unstoppable. St. Arromond shut down Dargati’s layup attempt, flinging the ball into Bush’s hands, who got the ball to Gilbert on a fast break, and it was a 4-point lead after a layup.

The Titans defense persisted and forced Northwest out of bounds with just over a minute left, yet the Lions quickly responded with a layup to make it a 2-point game. 

After a missed three from Gaston, the Lions call a timeout. It provided some thinking time for Northwest to strategize, and time for Hall to recover from a shot that could have swung the game into their favor.

In the final moments, Delaney sealed the game at the free throw line, making one of two shots to get Hall a 4-point lead. 

As fans cleared the stands to celebrate a Titan victory, Steele added a dramatic final note to an already thrilling game. A half-court buzzer beater sent the gym into a frenzy, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome on the scoreboard. Hall walked away with a narrow 73-72 win. 

Hall, now in 11th place in Division II, will travel to Farmington High School on Friday to face the Riverhawks (7-11) at 6:45 p.m., seeking to further improve their 12-5 record.

Northwest Catholic (13-3, in sixth place in Division I) will head to Bristol Central High School (8-9) at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night,  working to bounce back after Tuesday night’s loss.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.