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Sports

Darien Upsets Stamford 53—43

Blue Wave pulls away in second half with Buch, Calby and Marren leading the way.

The Blue Wave girls, with a very respectable 5-3 record coming into Tuesday night's game against more-than-respectable 6-1 Stamford, beat the visiting Black Knights, 53-43 with a solid second half.

With the victory, Darien has doubled last year's win total of three games, as the season approaches the halfway point.

Nicole Buch, Meg Marren and Liz Camby were all double-digit scorers, as the Wave  took over early in the second half; and, despite some Stamford challenges, held them off for the 10-point win.

In the opening period, Darien was down seven points as the result of what's been a "bugaboo" when they struggle: turnovers. They were forcing the ball, most of the time in trying to get the ball deep to Marren with one pass from the top. But once the Wave settled down and made two or three passes before feeding her, things changed.

Stamford couldn't jam the middle and anticipate. Fewer turnovers meant fewer transition baskets for the visitors, and Darien took advantage with the backcourt of Buch and Camby getting lanes to the basket and Marren getting some room to maneuver. The Wave also mixed up their defenses and when Coach Gary Peterson moved the five-foot-ten Marren to the top of the zone late in the first quarter, it led to Stamford turnovers.

"I knew I was taking my best rebounder away from the basket to the top of the zone, but since Marren, moves her feet very well for someone that tall, it caused passing  problems for the shorter Stamford guards," said Peterson.

The move was key in  helping Darien to a two point lead  after one quarter.

The Wave switched to man-to-man defense in the second quarter and mixed in some full-court, three-quarter and half-court traps as the teams traded leads. The half ended with Darien leading 22-21. Buch had 11 points at the break to lead all scorers.

Darien jumped out to a five-point lead early in the third quarter, when Buch to Julia Boulton to Leanne Stone on some crisp passing from high to middle to low led to an easy basket. But just when it appeared that the Wave might be taking control, the Black Knights scored the next five points on a rebound basket and a three. Their top three players, Kim Mannarino, Kelsey Cognetta and the rebounding of Jasmine Jones brought them back to tie the game.

Marren untied it moments later with consecutive baskets. Moments later Stone scored off a rebound and a put-back, and Darien had a seven-point lead after three quarters. Buch and Calby kept driving to the basket with success with Marren grabbing most of the rebounds (she had 15 for the game along with a blocked shot).

In the fourth quarter, Stamford never got closer than seven points, but Darien was missing its free throws and unable to pull away until Buch and Calby converted from the foul line with the clock winding down to ice the win 53-43.

Darien improves to 6-3; Stamford drops to 6-2.

Next up for the Wave: Wilton at home on Friday at 7 p.m.

TOP SORERS:

Darien

Nicole Buch 23 points
Liz Calby 13
Meg Marren 11

Stamford
Kim Mannarino 13 points
Kelsey Cognetta 11
Jasmine Jones 7

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