The fourth quarter came down to just playing basketball. The guys played together and we put the ball in the hands of the right people.

The game wasn't as close as that score might make it seem. We had a seven, eight point lead most of the way. But Hale-Ray competes, they fight and they kept coming at us. I think that's the best four-win team in the state.

In retrospect, we won the game in the first quarter. We outscored them 19-6 and that turned out to be just enough of a cushion.

That quarter set the tone. This was a close game after one -- North Branford led 13-11 at the first turn -- but with the 8-0 quarter, we took control. The momentum carried into the second half.

I told them to be more aggressive. Westbrook's press gave us problems. But we also hurt ourselves by not being aggressive on offense. We settled for bad shots just as many times as we turned the ball over. We had a couple roll out but usually we were suffering from some bad shots.

It was really a hard-fought, physical game. It was a fun game to coach. It didn't end well and the kids took it very hard, but it was a good basketball game.

It was clearly Matt's most efficient 12 minutes of the season.

They out-rebounded us in the second half. That's how they got back in the game. But we made our free throws down the stretch and it was really Nick Comstock who won the game for us.

They made more baskets than we did, but we made more free throws and that's what won the game.

They're the best team...the best five players overall in the Shoreline. I made the comment before...I don't think there are any spectacular talents on that team but as a team they do everything very well. They set screens, they execute their offense, they defend and they make open shots.