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Sports

Darien Boys Basketball Beats Trumbull

Blue Wave holds off Trumbull 49-42 for first FCIAC win in more than a year

It's a new wave for the Darien Blue Wave.

In a nail-biter that saw double-digit leads disappear, the Darien boys' basketball team finally was able to get over the hump and defeat a FCIAC opponent, beating the Trumbull Eagles 49-42 on Friday.

"This game was a very big win for us," Darien senior Ian Sullivan.  "It's the program's first win in the FCIAC since I've been here, so I'm very happy that we were able to get it done tonight."

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It also was the first victory for newly appointed head coach Kyle Marian.

"I'm really excited for my seniors, my younger guys, and for the students who came out tonight to watch us," Marian said.  "Before I'm a coach, I'm a fan, and before I'm a fan, I'm an alumni, so I'm glad we were able to get this win for the program."

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The Darien student body was certainly out in force to root on the Blue Wave  (1-1) Friday night, and their energy brought out the best in the home team. 

"It was really awesome to see everyone there in the crowd," Sullivan said.  "We told everyone at school that tonight was going to be a big game, and I was happy that so many people showed up. We fed off of the crowd and I know that it personally gave me a lot of energy."

The crowd seemed to have an opposite  effect on the Trumbull team, as some Eagles players were seen yelling back at the crowd and not knowing what to do during some parts of the game.

"We've got to talk to each other more," Trumbull senior David Klein. "We have to communicate better and just vocalize what we're doing out there."

The game was a disappointment for the Eagles (0-2), who fought all the way back,  only to see their opportunities squandered.

"We're disappointed with the loss," Trumbull head coach Buddy Bray.  "They out-hustled and out-played us tonight, and they made shots and we just didn't."

The schedule does not get any easier for the Eagles, though, as they have to face Stamford in their next game.

"We have a very good Stamford team that we're facing next, that we have to prepare for," Bray said. 

But the Eagles players are certainly not shy about practicing harder for their next game, as they will continue to work hard towards ultimately getting a victory.

"We have to practice everything," Klein said.  "Dribbling, shooting, passing, we realize that in order to get that win we have to work."

As for the Blue Wave, next on the schedule is an away game at next-door rival New Canaan. The Darien players are look to take revenge for what happened on the football field on Thanksgiving (42-0 New Canaan win).

"They're a very good team, and there's a lot of history between the towns whether the game takes place on the soccer pitch, football field, or basketball court," Marian said.  We're going to practice hard and try to game plan them as best as we can."

But for now, the players are content with celebrating a win, especially after last season's 1-19 season.

"It's awesome to finally get the win," Darien senior Chris Allam said.  "We all came together and said we have to take it one game at a time.  Every game is a one game season for us."

 

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