By KEVIN ROBERTS
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
ANSONIA — Ansonia High boys basketball coach Shane Kingsley was a little concerned about how his team would come out against St. Paul on Friday night.
The Chargers were coming off an emotional 67-61 overtime victory over next-door neighbor Derby at home Thursday night. It took Ansonia until the third quarter to really get going against St. Paul, but once it did, it was on a roll and claimed a 57-46 win.
The Chargers got big third quarters from Elijah Ellis on the outside and Noah Wagnblas on the inside to open up a double-digit lead. Ansonia turned up the energy on both ends and picked up the pace to record a second straight win after three straight losses to Watertown, Woodland and Seymour. The streak began, however, with the overtime effort against Derby.
“We were coming off a couple bad losses in a row,” Kingsley said. “Last night was big for us to come back and respond. It was definitely a big win for us to get back to .500.”
Ansonia improved to 5-4 with the wins over Derby and St. Paul. The Chargers usually play just seven players, but each of them plays hard. Ansonia starts two seniors, one junior and two sophomores, but only one of the starters, junior Sheldon Schuler, was a starter last year.
Ansonia and Derby treated a big crowd at Ansonia High to a great game, according to Kingsley.
“(Thursday) night was what high school sports are all about,” Kingsley said. “The guys on the floor from both teams just played hard.”
In the St. Paul game, Darell McKnight led Ansonia with 19 points. He was joined in a balanced attack by Wagnblas (14), Jadin Blackwell (12) and Ellis (9).
