Wamogo’s Max Loomis (55). (RA archive)
BY MARK JAFFEE
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Two seasons ago, Wamogo’s Max Loomis went to the foul line in the closing seconds of a game against Thomaston with a chance to tie the game and force overtime.
Loomis missed his first free throw. Although he made the second shot, Wamogo still lost by a point, 39-38, to the Bears on Jan. 31, 2015 at Wamogo.
“A miss like that stays with you,” said Loomis. “It was like flushing the toilet bowl. The ball rolled in and out. You never forget it.”
That miss has served as motivation for Loomis, who has worked particularly hard on his free-throw shooting in practice. In the Warriors’ game against Nonnewaug last Friday, his extra work paid off and he finally got some redemption for his miss from two seasons ago.
With 59 seconds left against the Chiefs, Loomis hit two foul shots to put the Warriors up by two and they held on for a 53-51 win at Wamogo.
Was everything calm as he approached the line?
“It definitely wasn’t quiet in the gym,” said Loomis, who claimed he wasn’t nervous. “I’ve been there before. I took three dribbles and tossed both shots up with my left hand. They went straight in with no hesitation. All of the practice and preparation helped take the pressure off me. Coach (Gregg) Hunt has us taking 30-plus, maybe 40 free throws in practice a day with guys lined up at the line to give us a real game time scenario, so we’re not a stranger to that feeling late in a game.”
Hunt said that Loomis being a seasoned veteran and senior helped this time.
“It helps that Max has been there before, and he wasn’t going to worry about missing a shot,” said Hunt
Wamogo (10-1 overall, 9-1 BL) has won three in a row after dropping a 60-45 decision to Berkshire League leader Lewis Mills (10-1, 10-0).
The Warriors visit Gilbert (1-9) tonight and then travel to Terryville (6-4, 5-3) on Monday in a game rescheduled from earlier this week. Both games are at 7 p.m.
Wamogo hosts Northwestern a week from today in Litchfield, also at 7.
On the cusp: After a 2-4 start, Seymour (7-4) is on a five-game winning streak and one win away from qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since 2010. The Wildcats went 3-16 last season.
In 2010, according to Matt Fischer of the CIAC, Seymour went 12-8 in the regular season and was seeded 17th in Class M. Seymour beat Waterford, 55-50, in the first round, but lost to Nonnewaug, 81-55, in the second round.
The Wildcats have won five in a row and play road games next week at Kennedy on Monday at 7 p.m., St. Paul on Wednesday at 7 and Ansonia on Feb. 3 at 6.
Who’s hot: Torrington (6-4) has won six of its last seven games. The Red Raiders opened the season winless in its first three games. Torrington visits Wilby tonight at 7 at the Reggie O’Brien Gymnasium … Prior to Holy Cross’ nonleague game with Kaynor Tech on Thursday, the Crusaders (8-1) had won five NVL games in a row since dropping a 68-46 decision to undefeated Sacred Heart … After a 1-4 start, Terryville has won five in a row to improve to 6-4.