“It’s history for Staples, heartbreak for Ridgefield.”
That was the call heard on WWPT 90.3 FM as the Staples Wreckers continued their remarkable undefeated season with their second straight FCIAC championship, beating the Ridgefield Tigers 62-48.
“It’s special; I’ve got a great group,” Head Coach Dave Goldshore said. “I have a special group that cares deeply, that really is a family and they wanted it.”
All-FCIAC first team player Sam Clachko ’26 won the Tournament MVP with 13 points (19 ppg in the tournament), and All-FCIAC first-team player Mason Tobias ’26 added another 14, even through strep throat and flu-like symptoms on the court.
“It was awesome to be able to win one on the court,” Clachko said. “Every night I just go out and do my role. Sometimes it is more assists; sometimes it is scoring the basket. Either way, I just try to help my team win.
The win meant even more to Clachko, as at the end of the 2024-25 season, he broke his wrist and was unable to play in last year’s FCIAC finals.
“I think they had some extra motivation,” Goldshore said. “From my perspective it was about [winning] a lot of ways for [Clachko].”
The Wreckers started off hot, leading 16-7 at the end of the first quarter. However, Ridgefield crawled their way back by halftime. All-FCIAC first team player Jayson Genova scored 13 points in the first half for Ridgefield, cutting Staples’ lead to two: 27-25.
(Photo contributed by Ryan Allen ’27)
Despite Genova’s 25 total points, the Wreckers remained victorious. Four players scored in the double digits and six of the Wreckers scored at least five points (Henry Veissid ’28, Dhilan Lowman ’27, Austin Heyer ’27, Sam Clachko ’26, Mason Tobias ’26 and Matty Corrigan ’26). To cap off the win, Lowman had his first ever in-game dunk as time expired, and the superfans went wild.
As the number two ranked team in Connecticut, Staples moves to 23-0 on the season (3-0 in the playoffs). However, the Wreckers have stated that they are not satisfied unless they have two championships. They are the one seed in the division I basketball state tournament and take on the 16 seed Manchester Red Hawks in the Junkyard, on Tuesday, March 10 @ 6pm.
“Win game one,” Goldshore said when asked about his goals for the state playoffs. “[We should] enjoy this, but come out and win game one and take it one step at a time.”
