By The Waterbury Times
Game Night in the Brass City- Sponsored by Simon Sharrock- Dave Jones Realty

Waterbury– Nine years. Fourteen straight losses.
All erased on a cold Friday night in Waterbury.

The Wilby Wildcats delivered a statement that will echo through Brass City basketball history, snapping a 14-game losing streak to Crosby dating back to the 2016 NVL Semifinals, with a 95–64 win over the Bulldogs in a packed Reggie O’Brien Gymnasium.

And this wasn’t just another midseason game.

Crosby vs. Wilby: The First Rivalry of the Brass City

An Atmosphere Built for March — in January

The atmosphere was electric well before tip-off. So many fans packed the gym that the opposite-side bleachers behind the benches had to be pulled out, seating typically reserved for NVL Tournament games—not midseason matchups on a January night.

That’s what happens when Crosby meets Wilby, the longest rivalry in the city.

Early Nerves, Then Total Control

The game opened sloppy, with both teams starting lineups heavy on sophomores and juniors, many playing in front of the largest crowd of their lives. Crosby struck first, jumping out to a 7–2 lead, feeding off early energy.

It didn’t last long.

B. Morillo calmed the moment, sinking two free throws before immediately knocking down a three-pointer that ignited the Wildcats. From there, Wilby took full control—and never looked back.

Morillo finished with 16 points, including four three-pointers, setting the tone from deep. When the defense stretched out, Wilby attacked the rim relentlessly.

• J. Abel added 13 points, knocking down three triples.
• R. High scored 15 points, repeatedly getting downhill.
• S. Garner chipped in 14 points, also finishing strong at the basket.

• M. Fox (10 points) controlled the offense with smart decision-making and timely passes.
• A. Nealy (11 points) delivered tough buckets in traffic.
• S. Barnes was a menace defensively, disrupting passing lanes and setting the tone on the other end.

This wasn’t one player’s night—it was a complete team performance.

Stallworth Player of the Game

The Waterbury Times Stallworth Player of the Game goes to S. Stewart, who poured in 13 points while making impact plays everywhere on the floor. Stewart’s communication, energy, and passion matched the magnitude of the moment and embodied what this rivalry means to the city.

Milestone Win for Wilby

With the victory, Wilby:

• Improves to 8–2
• Qualifies for the CIAC State Tournament
• Records its best start since the 2022–23 season

More importantly, the Wildcats finally exorcised a nine-year demon.

Crosby’s Night Goes Sideways

For Crosby, the up-and-down season continues. The Bulldogs’ recent pattern—four straight wins, four straight losses, two straight wins—ended emphatically with this blowout. They fall to 6–5.

There were bright spots:

• C. Washington led all scorers with 22 points, battling all night and making effort plays.
• J. Jackson added 10 points.
• R. Chapman scored 11 points.
• Sophomore J. Benjamin chipped in 13 points before fouling out.

But Wilby’s full-court pressure and trapping defense, combined with the playoff-like atmosphere, proved too much for a young Bulldogs roster still learning to handle moments of this magnitude.

Final Word

These two rivals only meet once a year in the regular season, unless the basketball gods decide otherwise in March.

Friday night belonged to Wilby.

The streak is over.
The rivalry is alive.
And the city will be waiting.

See you next year at the Palace.

Waterbury High School Sports News