The Waterbury Times|TWT SPORTS DESK|Published Mar 13, 2026

Hartford- The (6) Wilby High School Wildcats saw their impressive postseason run come to an end Friday night, falling 64–50 to the (3) Sports and Medical Sciences Academy Tigers in the quarterfinals of the CIAC Boys Basketball State Tournament in Hartford.

For Wilby, a team built largely around sophomores and juniors, the loss marked the end of a gritty tournament push under second-year head coach Devonne Parker.

But while the scoreboard favored SMSA, the bigger story may be what this young Wildcats group has built — and where they could be headed next.

Waterbury High School Sports News

A Run That Reignited Wilby Basketball

The Wildcats entered the state tournament looking to rebound from a heartbreaking NVL quarterfinal loss to the Crosby High School Bulldogs.

Instead of folding, Wilby responded with two strong wins over Bristol Central Rams and New Fairfield Rebels to reach the quarterfinals.

The matchup with SMSA represented Wilby’s biggest state tournament game in roughly 14 years, and the Wildcats came ready to compete.

A Slow Start on the Road

The opening quarter featured both teams feeling each other out offensively before SMSA found its rhythm. The Tigers closed the first quarter with an 18–11 lead, aided by strong shooting and the energy of a supportive home crowd.

The second quarter slowed down considerably as whistles increased and the physical tone of the game intensified — something familiar to anyone who watches Waterbury basketball.

Despite the difficult stretch, Wilby stayed within striking distance, heading into halftime trailing 26–22.

Wildcats Fight Back

Wilby came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring SMSA 16–15 and trimming the deficit to just three points.

The crowd — roughly 65–35 in favor of the home team — remained loud, but the Wilby supporters who made the trip ensured the Wildcats were far from alone.

Among those in attendance were Ron Napoli Jr., who represents the district, and former Wilby standout Rob “Sonny” Williams Jr., both cheering on the Wildcats as momentum began to shift.

When the score tightened to 41–38 early in the fourth quarter, it felt like the game was about to swing.

Instead, SMSA seized control.

The Game-Changing Run

Wilby shifted into a 2–3 zone defense rather than the aggressive trapping style that had fueled much of their success this season.

The Tigers capitalized immediately, launching a 14–0 run that pushed the score to 55–38 and effectively put the game out of reach.

From there, SMSA never looked back.

Late Push Falls Short

Wilby guard Madden Fox ignited the offense late with a barrage of three-pointers, but the surge came too late to close the gap.

Sophomore standouts R. High and S. Steward, both All-NVL performers, battled until the final buzzer, but the Wildcats ultimately ran out of time.

A Moment of Passion — And Perspective

Late in the game’s emotional moments, there was a brief heated exchange between Wilby Athletic Director Alan Piccolo and your Waterbury Times Editor/Publisher DM Livingston, a 1999 Wilby graduate, who was visibly passionate about the game and questioned the defensive strategy from the stands. Piccolo was Head Coach of Wildcats prior to D.Parker

The two were later seen exchanging handshakes after the game.

In the spirit of full transparency — and Wilby pride — Livingston offered a message afterward:

“That was passion speaking. Coach Parker has done an incredible job with this program. All love for Coach and this team. They gave the city a season to be proud of.”

Sometimes emotions run high when you care deeply about the jersey.

At Wilby, that’s just part of the culture.

The Future Is Bright

For Wilby, the loss marks the end of a season — but possibly the beginning of something bigger.

The Wildcats return nearly their entire roster next year, including a freshman We are calling it now, as one of the best shooters in the league.

With experience gained and expectations rising, the message from this season is clear:

The road to “Run to Sun 2026” may have started the moment the final buzzer sounded.

And if this young Wildcats group continues to grow, the rest of Connecticut may want to start paying attention.

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