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Strong 4th Quarter Lifts Norwalk Basketball To Key Win

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk High’s boys basketball team had been seeking a signature win since Tom Keyes took over the program in 2011. Friday’s 61-47 triumph over Ridgefield High may have been the one the Bears needed to get over the hump.

Norwalk's Jeremy Linton drives on Ridgefield's Charles Irwin.

Norwalk's Jeremy Linton drives on Ridgefield's Charles Irwin.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
The Norwalk bench erupts after a key basket.

The Norwalk bench erupts after a key basket.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
A Norwalk player defends Ridgefield's Jeff Racy in the paint.

A Norwalk player defends Ridgefield's Jeff Racy in the paint.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
Norwalk's Roy Kane glides inside and puts up a shot against a tough Ridgefield defense.

Norwalk's Roy Kane glides inside and puts up a shot against a tough Ridgefield defense.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
Norwalk's Saeed Soulemane puts up a shot as he's guarded by several Ridgefield defenders.

Norwalk's Saeed Soulemane puts up a shot as he's guarded by several Ridgefield defenders.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
Norwalk's Jeremy Linton makes a move on a Ridgefield defender.

Norwalk's Jeremy Linton makes a move on a Ridgefield defender.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo
Norwalk's Jeremy Linton glides to the basket after getting past Ridgefield's Charles Irwin.

Norwalk's Jeremy Linton glides to the basket after getting past Ridgefield's Charles Irwin.

Photo Credit: Contributed by Chris Palermo

Paced by 16 points each by brothers Roy Kane and Jabari Dear, the Bears pulled away in the fourth quarter to improve to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Ridgefield slipped to  7-2 overall and 5-2 in the league.

“Since I’ve been here we’ve come close a couple of times, even this year,’’ said Keyes, whose team dropped a 63-55 decision to Westhill High in Stamford on Tuesday. “We had to keep believing in what we were doing and keep the kids believing in what you’re doing and that good things are going to happen.”

Tied at 39-39 early in the fourth, the Bears went on a 12-4 run to take a 51-43 lead after Dear scored on a pretty assist from Saeed Soulemane with less than four minutes to play. The Bears closed the game on a 8-0 run, punctuated by a dunk by Kane with a minute left to put the Bears up by 10.

Kane and Jeremy Linton had six points each in the fourth quarter. Soulemane had a terrific all-around game with nine points and double digits in rebounds and assists. Linton, a sophomore point guard, kept the Bears steady against a difficult Ridgefield defense.

“Tonight was our night,’’ Keyes said. “We made big shots when we needed to. Jeremy did a great job, and Roy was unbelievable with some of those tip ins in the fourth quarter.”

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