Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) pulls up and takes a shot in front of pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) and Zach McGettigan (15) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) pulls up and takes a shot in front of pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) and Zach McGettigan (15) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug head coach David Yachtis talks with Cam Collette (12) as he comes off the court in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug head coach David Yachtis talks with Cam Collette (12) as he comes off the court in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media
Immaculate head coach Nelson Mingachos shouts instructions to his team during the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Immaculate head coach Nelson Mingachos shouts instructions to his team during the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug's Zach McGettigan (15) shoots over Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug's Zach McGettigan (15) shoots over Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug's Zach McGettigan (15) grabs a rebound in front of Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug's Zach McGettigan (15) grabs a rebound in front of Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Immaculate's Ronan Doherty (14) throws up the ball in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Immaculate's Ronan Doherty (14) throws up the ball in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug's Jason Hirschauer (10) drives to the basket over Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug's Jason Hirschauer (10) drives to the basket over Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) pulls up and takes a shot before Immaculate's Ronan Doherty (14) can reach him in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) pulls up and takes a shot before Immaculate's Ronan Doherty (14) can reach him in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Immaculate's Jack Woods (3) puts the ball up in front of Pomperaug's Chase Breyer (25)boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Immaculate's Jack Woods (3) puts the ball up in front of Pomperaug's Chase Breyer (25)boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug's David Satkowski (34) shoots over Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug's David Satkowski (34) shoots over Immaculate's Quinn Guth (10) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Pomperaug head coach David Yachtis talks with Cam Collette (12) as he comes off the court in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Pomperaug head coach David Yachtis talks with Cam Collette (12) as he comes off the court in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) pulls up and takes a shot in front of pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) and Zach McGettigan (15) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Immaculate's Michael Basile (2) pulls up and takes a shot in front of pomperaug's Mario Paniccia (22) and Zach McGettigan (15) in the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Immaculate head coach Nelson Mingachos shouts instructions to his team during the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn. less
Immaculate head coach Nelson Mingachos shouts instructions to his team during the boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, ... more
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Boys basketball game between Pomperaug and Immaculate high schools, Friday night, January 12, 2018, at Immaculate High School, In Danbury, Conn.
Photo: H John Voorhees III, Hearst Connecticut Media
DANBURY — Without an object above the backboard that determines when a team chooses to shoot, players are free to play ball control with the lead at any stage, particularly in the fourth quarter.
With five guards capable of both handling the ball and driving to the hoop, a lead is a good thing to have for the Immaculate boys basketball team.
The Mustangs’ patience paid off as a steady effort on offense combined with an excellent performance on the other end of the court led to a 47-41 win over Pomperaug in a clash of SWC contenders Friday night. Jake Payton (15 points), Mike Basile (12) and Quinn Guth (12) were all in double figures for Immaculate (6-2), which bounced back from a defeat to ND-Fairfield on Tuesday.
“Today (Pomperaug) had some bigger guys out there and we took advantage of it,” Immaculate coach Nelson Mingachos said. “We tried to pull them out, go by them, and we got some easy buckets.”
The Mustangs used a strong third quarter to open a 36-28 lead, one they nursed down the stretch. Though the tempo slowed down significantly to start the fourth — each team had just two points at the 3:45 mark — Immaculate’s defense made the advantage hold up.
“We were just playing solid, good defense,” Mingachos said. “They were stepping to the ball, communicating, and boxing out was huge today. To have our small guards box out those bigger guys was a big credit to them.”
Pomperaug pulled to within 36-33 early in the fourth, and to within 40-36 with 2:25 to play. Immaculate then made four straight foul shots in a 30 second span to close it out.
Chase Breyer and Jason Hirschauer each had 11 to pace the Panthers.
OFFENSE DERAILED
The Panthers (7-2) have thrived in close games throughout the season; four of their seven wins have come by five points or less, with a fifth decided in overtime. Offensive flow was tough to come by with an aggressive Immaculate defense combined with cold shooting.
“When you score 41 points in a varsity game, you should pretty much lose it,” Yachtis said. “We struggled offensively; we were a little under the weather and tired. We just didn’t make any shots.”
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jake Payton, Immaculate: His three 3-pointers helped open an early advantage.
QUOTABLE
“We battled and played hard the whole game so I’m not really disappointed in our effort,” Yachtis said. “I think we’ll see them again, I hope we do. Immaculate is one of the best teams in the conference.”
IMMACULATE 47, POMPERAUG 41
POMPERAUG (7-2)
Jason Hirschauer 3 3-6 11 Zach McGettigan 3 0-2 6 Mario Paniccia 3 0-1 7 Chase Breyer 4 0-0 11 David Satkowski 1 1-2 3 Will McDonald 1 0-0 3. Totals: 15 4-11 41.
IMMACULATE (6-2)
Jake Payton 5 2-7 15 Mike Basile 4 4-8 12 Jack Woods 0 1-2 1 Quinn Guth 5 2-2 12 Sean Guiry 1 0-0 3 Ronan Doherty 2 0-0 4. Totals: 17 9-19 47.
POMPERAUG12 11 8 10 — 41
IMMACULATE12 13 11 15 — 47
3-pointers: Hirschauer 2, Panicia, Breyer 3, McDonald; I—Payton 3, Guiry.