Slimy Success — Bananaslugs Finish Second

Newtown’s eighth grade boys’ travel basketball team, the Bananaslugs, ended the season with a runner-up finish championship game versus Stamford Youth with a hard-fought 57-56 loss in overtime.

The leading scorers of the game were Colton Smith (17 points), Julian Dunn (15 points), and Troy Frangione (14 points).

Defensive plays were made by Will Dalton and Jeremy Doski, who also contributed four points each. Michael Parker added two big foul shots.

The Bananaslugs played Stamford twice during the season and lost each time, 63-61 and 93-72. The Bananaslugs did not give up easily and fought hard under the boards in all the games. Their overall record was 14-11. The team played against Bridgeport Shehan Center, Nowalk Carver Center, Guilford, Wakeman of Fairfield (2-0), and Stamford Youth. In non-league games, The Bananaslugs boasted a 7-1 record with wins against Monroe, Southbury, Danbury PAL, Bethel, New Fairfield, Westport, and Ridgefield.

During the season, the team relied on the strength of Smith, Doski, Dunn, Parker, Kevin Conte, Connor Roche, Frangione, and Dalton under the boards, and the outside shots of  Frangione, Jacob Burden, Parker, Smith, and Dave Matthews.

Defensively, Conte, Connor Roche, Dalton, Smith, Julian Dunn, Parker, Frangione, Doski, and Matthews paved the way for the Bananaslugs. The Bananaslugs were led by the coaching staff of Chris Norlander and Greg Grant of New Milford.