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Warrior Nation

By JOHN NASH

johnnash@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON -- Title it, "What I Did On My Summer Vacation," by the Wilton High School boys basketball team.

The answer?

Got better.

That was the recent word from second-year varsity coach Tim Tallcouch, who took 32 players from his program to Kutztown University in Pennsylvania for a late-July team camp event.

"In a nutshell, the upper varsity squad surprised all as to how well they competed," said Tallcouch, "The lower varsity played hard and the JV squad of seventh and eighth graders had a chance to feel a part of what we are trying to build."

Tallcouch explained he took three groups to the camp, including the upper varsity which would be next season's varsity team; the lower varsity, which was primarily ninth graders from a year ago; and the JV squad of Wilton Basketball Association players.

A total of 48 schools took part in the camp, including Wilton and New Canaan, as well as teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and even France.

In an e-mail to friends, parents and supporters of the program, Tallcouch summarized how each squad fared in their off-season preparation.

Next year's varsity squad, as he said, opened the most eyes.

"To sum up how far this team has evolved from June 1st to now, in two words, SCARY GOOD," Tallcouch wrote. "We lost three starters from last season and quite honestly, I had no clue how this group would mesh. I think they had no clue how they could mesh, but, slowly this crew is evolving into a very unselfish and cohesive unit."

The team was 8-7 for the week, but finished 5-2 on the final two days of camp and made a run through the playoffs to get to the championship game.

Who was on the other side of the court? New Canaan.

"Funny how two Connecticut teams have to travel to Pennsylvania to play," Tallcouch said. "Fairfield County Hoops isn't too bad after all)."

New Canaan pulled out a one-point win, but Wilton walked away from the court knowing two things, according to their coach.

"We know we can beat them, and I know they know we can beat them," he wrote. "We have two games against them in December ... GAME ON!"

The "lower varsity" team saw each of the players get playing time and get better, which were the main two goals of the camp, Tallcouch said.

"The games that I saw showed some improvement from last season in the players, and this team battled nicely most of the time," Tallcouch said. "They did not quit. Hopefully this group of players can continue to improve over the next four months."

The youngest group, getting a feel for the program, was the youngest group that showed up at the camp, but gained valuable experience of what it's going to take to be a part of Tallcouch's program.

"It gives me an insight on what is coming in the next year or two," Tallcouch said. "This team battled each game ... The effort put forth by everyone was a pleasure to watch. The highlight for this squad was their first round playoff win against a higher seeded team and then lose by 10 to a very good French international team that finished second. I see a lot of promise coming up."

Last year, Tallcouch led the Warriors to a 6-14 campaign, getting wins over Darien, Norwalk, Staples, Ridgefield, Fairfield Warde, and Trumbull.

Three seniors graduated from that squad.

It may have been summer -- a time where Little League, beaches and back-to-school shopping are at the forefront of everybody's mind.

But for a small group of Wilton High School athletes, it was basketball time and the program took another step of growth as it waits for December to arrive.

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