Abbott Tech's Morelli hits half-court shot at buzzer to beat Grasso Tech for CTC boys basketball title
· Yahoo Sports
EAST HAMPTON - Christian Morelli took a couple of dribbles, calmly glanced up to the clock and delivered the shot heard around the Connecticut Technical Conference before being mobbed by teammates and classmates who made the trip to East Hampton High School for a night none of them will soon forget.
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Second-seeded Grasso Tech had a chance to win Wednesday's CTC boys' basketball title game in the final possession in a back-and-forth affair. However, Morelli came up with a steal and rattled in a game-winning 3-pointer from half court to give No. 1 seed Abbott Tech the 58-55 win in an unforgettable championship showdown.
"I just caught the ball, I saw two seconds on the clock, threw it up and it went in," said Morelli, who finished with 15 points. "It was a great shot, it brought us to the championship."
Grasso Tech led by six points in the fourth quarter. Abbott Tech regained the lead on a basket by Matthew Green before back-to-back 3-pointers by Zamir Foy gave Grasso Tech a five-point lead with 1:21 left to play. A basket by Tyler Rutkowski and a corner 3-pointer by Green tied the game at 55 with 23 seconds left.
Grasso Tech had a chance for some late-game magic. However, a steal by Morelli set up the wild finish.
"I am glad I didn't use my final timeout and the thought ran into my head," Abbott Tech coach Anthony Simone said. "I looked at the clock and I said just let him go. Christian's our best shooter and we'll see what happens when he gets it off."
Green led Abbott Tech (19-4) with 21 points and four assists. Rutkowski finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.
Julius Washington had 13 points, five rebounds and four steals for Grasso Tech (19-4).
The Eagles used a pair of Foy baskets during a 6-1 run to take a four-point lead at halftime. Foy, who led Grasso Tech with 23 points, scored again early in the third quarter to push the lead to six. Abbott Tech went back in front less than a minute into the fourth quarter on an Adrian Perez basket. Grasso Tech, which led for much of the second half, appeared to regain control. However, the Wolverines made enough shots and defensive stops down the stretch to set up Morelli's championship moment.
"We played well tonight, I am proud of my guys," Grasso Tech coach Tim Strong said. "The program has come a long way, it is the first tournament appearance ever. We have come a long way and we are going to be back. I feel bad for my seniors, but they gave it everything they had. You can't say enough about those guys."
Player of the Game
Christian Morelli: The Abbott Tech sophomore had 15 points including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Quotable
"It is great. We are all so happy. We worked every day in practice for this moment and we delivered." Christian Morelli.
Abbott Tech 58, Grasso Tech 55
(at East Hampton)
Grasso Tech 12 19 9 15 - 55
Abbott Tech 16 11 10 21 - 58
Grasso Tech (19-4)
Jordan Washington 4 0-1 9, Zamir Foy 10 0-0 23, Julius Washington 5 1-2 13, Ryan Gemaly 1 0-0 2, Taqiyy Bates 2 0-0 4, Lachlan Singer-Johnson 1 0-0 2, Joey Teixeira 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 1-3 55.
Abbott Tech (19-4)
Matthew Green 8 2-5 21, Christian Morelli 5 3-3 15, Tyler Rutkowski 5 1-2 12, Josh Fontaine 3 0-0 6, Adrian Perez 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 6-10 58.
Three-pointers: GT-Foy 3, Ju. Washington 2, Jo. Washington; AT-Green 3, Morelli 2, Butkowski.
Team Records: Grasso Tech 19-4, Abbott Tech 19-4
This article originally published at Abbott Tech's Morelli hits half-court shot at buzzer to beat Grasso Tech for CTC boys basketball title.