By D.M.Livingston|Published Jan 8, 2026

Sponsored by Simon Sharrock- Dave Jones Realty

Waterbury- Game Night in the Brass City returned to the Crosby Palace, where momentum—and the NVL rankings—were very much on the line as (5) Torrington visited (6) Crosby.

The Bulldogs entered the season ranked No. 4 in our Preseason NVL Power Rankings and quickly proved they belonged, ripping off four straight wins to climb all the way to No. 1 in our first regular-season rankings. But after hosting Torrington, Crosby’s early-season surge has hit a wall.

With the 70–60 loss, Crosby has now dropped four straight games, falling to 4–4 on the season. Meanwhile, Torrington—ranked 7th preseason—continues its steady rise and should crack the Top 5 when Monday’s rankings are released.

2025–2026 Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) Boys Basketball Preview- The Waterbury Times Pre-season Power Rankings

Fast Start at the Palace

Crosby came out firing, opening the game with energy and confidence. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 24–11 first-quarter lead, punctuated by a buzzer-beating half-court shot from Isaiah Washington that brought the Palace to its feet.

But the second quarter belonged entirely to Torrington.

The Raiders opened the period on a 10–0 run, flipping the momentum and forcing Crosby into uncomfortable possessions. Torrington closed the half strong and headed into the locker room with a 35–31 lead, silencing the early home-court buzz.

Trading Blows in the Second Half

The third quarter played out evenly as both offenses settled in and big shots fell on both ends. Torrington maintained control, extending the lead to 50–44 heading into the fourth.

Crosby sophomore guard Julien Benjamin, who was largely neutralized early by Torrington’s full-court man pressure and ball denial, found his rhythm in the second half. Benjamin battled his way to 18 points, matching Isaiah Washington, who also finished with 18 for the Bulldogs.

Despite the push, Crosby couldn’t close the gap when it mattered most.

De La Cruz Makes the Difference

The difference came in the fourth quarter, where Chris De La Cruz delivered winning plays that don’t always show up in highlights. De La Cruz controlled the glass with timely rebounds, converted put-backs, and protected the rim with key blocks down the stretch.

For his effort, De La Cruz earned Stallworth Counseling Player of the Game honors, finishing with 19 points and setting the tone when the game tightened.

Final

Torrington 70, Crosby 60

Torrington improves to 5–1, continuing its climb up the NVL ladder. Crosby, now 4–4, will look to regroup as the league schedule intensifies.

Waterbury HighSchool Sports- Game Night in the Brass City

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🔜 Next on Game Night in the Brass City

(2) Watertown at (10) Kennedy
📅 Friday, January 9, 2026
📍 Kennedy High School
⏰ 7:00 PM

Another ranking-impact matchup is coming—and we’ll be there.

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