Lewis Mills’ Jon Schibi (9) had a team-high 14 points in Wednesday night’s Division III tournament game against Newington.
NEWINGTON, March 8, 2023 – The Lewis Mills boys basketball team rallied from a 12-point deficit to take the lead but host Newington rallied in the fourth quarter to eliminate the Spartans with a 48-47 win in a second round CIAC Division III contest Wednesday.
No. 8 Newington (17-6) took the lead in the final minute on Lebron Beckford’s two-point basket that was high off the glass and into the basket. Beckford was fouled on the play and hit the foul shot to give the Nor’easters a one-point lead with eight seconds remaining.
No. 9 Lewis Mills (14-8) had an attempt to win the waning seconds with a rebound and a potential game-winning basket that spun out of the rim as the buzzer sounded, according to head coach Ryan Raponey.
Jon Schibi led Mills in his final scholastic game with 14 points while Jack Stanislaw scored 12 and Connor McAtee added 11 points..
Fourteen wins in a single season was the most for Mills since they joined the CCC in 2019-20.
Newington advances to face No. 1 Bloomfield on Friday night.
Newington 48, Lewis Mills 47
At Newington
Lewis Mills (47) Gavin Daly 0-0–0, Jon Schibi 5-0-14, Charlie Joiner 0-3-3, Jack Stanislaw 2-8-12, Tristan Mooney 0-0-0, Connor McAtee 5-0-11, Jack Nestor 0-0-0, Connor Evans 3-1-7, Totals 16-12-47
Newington (48) Lebron Beckford 4-3-12, Alex Cucuta 0-0-0, Gavin Gray 4-2-12, Freddie Zullo 0-0-0, Adam Alexander 2-3-7, Sean Wild 0-0-0, Avery Mickens 3-0-8, Josiah Sims 4-0-9, Totals 16-8-48
Lewis Mills (14-8) 3 14 17 12 — 47
Newington (17-6) 15 13 2 18 — 48
Three-point goals: Schibi (LM) 4, McAtee (LM), Beckford (N), Gray (N) 2, Mickens (N) 2, Sims (N)
