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Harrison Stockdale of Phoenix of Darien shoots a 3-point shot against the Nor’East Lightning.

The Nor’East Lightning would have been wise to pay heed to the old saying “Never underestimate your opponent” when they faced the upstart fourth grade boys basketball team Phoenix of Darien.

Phoenix overcame a 13-point deficit to win its first game of the season by a score of 31-28 on the Lightning’s home floor in Brewster, NY on April 13.

Phoenix fell behind 13-0 within the first six minutes.

Wesley Rennie almost scored Phoenix’s first points of the season, but his beautiful 3-pointer was called off due to an infraction. Rennie’s strong defensive play resulted in many scoring opportunities for Darien.

Ben Secor got Phoenix on the board with a 3-point jumper from the baseline to make the score 13-3 after six minutes. Secor’s trey seemed to create a spark and Darien’s full-court press forced four quick turnovers.

Darien was not able to capitalize on the turnovers but was able to catch up to the Lightning’s 14 field goal attempts and outshoot the Lightning 5-0 on 3-point attempts.

Phoenix continued the full-court pressure and Logan Troeger and Teddy Christensen each made baskets. Charlie Johnson added two more points plus a free throw.

Sam Hadlow hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to bring Phoenix to within two, and Zarek Swetye stole a pass and made an eight-foot jumper to tie it at 15-15 with just over two minutes to go in the half.

Darien outshot the Lightning 26-20 in the first half, but trailed 19-15.

Charlie Johnson brought Phoenix to within one point with three minutes remaining when he made a free throw to make the score 27-26.

Darien’s constant pressure started to take a toll on the Lightning late in the game. The Nor’easters committed a turnover nearly every time they had the ball.

Harrison Stockdale broke free to hit a 12-foot jumper with under 90 seconds remaining to give Phoenix its first lead of the game at 28-27.

Darien’s defense kept the Lightning from scoring, and with 19 seconds on the clock, Stockdale tied up the Lightning’s point guard for a jump ball, which gave Phoenix possession.

With just seconds on the clock, Charlie Johnson stole the ball and fed it to Sam Hadlow, who put the finishing touch on the game with an easy lay-in.

Troeger led Phoenix with six points and 12 rebounds. Johnson and Swetye each had six points and five steals. Dougie Brown had 14 rebounds, five steals and two points.

Phoenix outshot Nor’East 68-45 and finished in third place in the two-day event.

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From top, Renee Collett, Isabella Montgomery and Darien’s Emily Roney compete for the New Canaan YMCA Aquianas synchronized swim team.

For the second year in a row, the New Canaan YMCA Aquianas synchronized swim team scored third in High Point Standings at the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships on April 9-13 in Greensboro, N.C.

This is the most important and prestigious synchronized swimming event held in the United States. Many of the nation’s top synchronized swimmers, including a 2012 Olympian and U.S. national team members, were in attendance.

The championships combine the U.S. Junior Championships (15-18 years of age) and U.S. National Championships (15 and over). Competing in the Junior events were 115 athletes representing 24 teams from across the United States.

In the Combo event, Darien’s Emily Roney, Alice Chidley, Camilla Kline, along with teammates Erin Wheeler, Isabella Montgomery, Alexandra Lin, Rebecca Trinklein, Eliza Sturgeon, Emma Baranski and Renee Collett  earned sixth place.

In the team event, fourth went to Darien’s Roney and Chidley with teammates Baranski, Collett, Wheeler, Montgomery, Trinklein, Sturgeon, and alternate Lin placing just behind the top Californian teams.

Santa Clara Aquamaids earned first in team, Walnut Creek Aquanuts placed second and Santa Clara Aquamaids made another team showing in third place.

“This meet is very competitive,” New Canaan coach Jen Muzyk said. “But these girls, with their endurance, flexibility, strength and team cohesiveness, met the challenge.”

Now the Aquianas transition to the age group part of the competition season. The next meet, the Connecticut & Metropolitan Association Competition, will be held at home on April 27-28 at the New Canaan YMCA.

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New Canaan’s Kaitlyn Moussignac battles for possession during the second half.

The New Canaan U12 girls Black soccer team was defeated 4-1 by Trumbull on Sunday

Trumbull had numerous shots against New Canaan goalies Katie Miller and Natasha Tchir, who played the first and second half, respectively. Miller had some outstanding saves and deflected the ball several times to avoid potential rebound shots.

Trumbull scored in the first 10 minutes and scored another two late in the first half to make the score 3-0 at the break.

In the second half, the New Canaan defense allowed a goal in the first two minutes before shutting out Trumbull the rest of the afternoon. New Canaan got some shots on goal and was more competitive in the second half.

Twelve minutes in, Kaitlyn Moussignac scored after receiving a pass from Ella Goodman to put New Canaan on the board at 4-1. New Canaan defenders Meghan Kloud, Kacy Haydu, Kelly Barker and Karlijn Van der Loo played a strong second half in limiting Trumbull’s scoring opportunites.

Moussignac, Erin Corbett, Jessie Boolukos, Katie Miller, Caitlin Lefferts, Goodman, Jessie Svagdis and Lauren Canet generated a few scoring opportunites for New Canaan.

Next week, New Canaan has an away game against Ridgefield Orange. New Canaan is coached by Rich Sutherland.

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The New Canaan U14 boys soccer team played competitively in its first game of the season, but the team had trouble converting its first-half scoring chances in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Norwalk at Conner Field.

New Canaan’s Henry Baer forced the Norwalk keeper to make a great save in the first minute, and Jai Ansh turned away several Norwalk scoring attempts from his left fullback position.

Jake Neuberger played an effective half at center midfield, passing the ball well, and Sam Rhodes had two great chances to score, but the first half ended with New Canaan behind 2-0.

Early in the second half, Rhodes converted a penalty kick to pull New Canaan to within a goal.

Second half keeper Jack Batchelor played did not allow a goal, and center back Teddy Greenspan had a superb half directing the New Canaan defense as the game turned into a defensive struggle.

Neither team had any quality scoring chances as the clock ran out on Norwalk’s 2-1 win.

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Darien YMCA Level 4 gymnast Charlotte Frank competes on the beam at the CT USAG State Championship meet. Frank scored a 9.05 for her performance.

Darien YMCA gymnasts from Levels 4, 7, 8 and 9 recently competed in the Connecticut USA Gymnastics (USAG) state championship meets.

Darien team members compete in both YMCA and USAG during the year and must achieve separate qualification scores and requirements to compete in championship meets.

The Level 8 and 9 championship meets were held March 23-24. In the Level 8 Senior 15 age group, Samantha Karpenos scored an 8.8 to earn fourth on vault and placed fifth on beam, bars and in the All Around (AA).

Perri Mirabile won the vault title with an 8.975 and placed seventh on floor. Christina Brandt competed in the Senior 16+ age group and placed ninth on both vault and floor with scores of 8.9 and 8.65, respectively.

Adnerys DeJesus, the sole competitor for Darien at Level 9, soared on vault, winning the event with a 9.425. She also scored 9.0 on beam for third place and was seventh AA. DeJesus also qualified to compete in the USAG Level 9/10 Regionals in Springfield, MA in April.

The Level 4 and 7 state championships were held April 5-6 in New Milford. Level 4 gymnasts were awarded gold medals for individual event scores above 9.0 and gold, silver or bronze for AA scores.

In the 9-11 age group, Charlotte Frank earned gold on beam, floor and bars as well as a gold AA for her 35.60 total. Skye Green earned gold on beam, floor and vault and gold AA with 35.58. Maisie Stewart hit 8.5 on her vault and earned a bronze AA medal.

In the 6-8 age group, Megan Cutler earned gold on vault with a 9.125 and scored 34.325 AA. Sommer Schmidt scored 8.9 on bars and was awarded a silver AA medal.

For the Level 7 team, in the 11 year age group, Kelsey Fedorko was fourth on bars, fifth on vault and fourth AA with a 36.10. Nicole Carlo was fifth on floor with a 9.0 and seventh on vault. Competing in the Senior 14 age group, Charlotte Henry placed fourth on vault with a 9.275.

Level 5, 6 and Prep Op gymnasts will compete in the USAG state championships later in the spring. All levels will compete at the YMCA Regionals meet in Maine next month.

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New Canaan's Cait McCarthy celebrates a goal by teammate Kaitlyn Moussignac during its season-opening 4-3 win over Weston on Sunday. Moussignac's goal gave New Canaan a 1-0 lead.

On Sunday, the New Canaan girls U12 Black team played its first game of the spring season, a home clash at the Water Tower Turf field against Weston. New Canaan started the season with a 4-3 victory.

Karlijn van der Loo was in goal the first half for New Canaan. She was helped by strong defense from Ella Goodman and Meghan Kloud. Other supporting defenders during the first half included Caitlin Lefferts, Kacy Haydu and Kaleigh McCarthy.

New Canaan’s attack was led by Lauren Canet, Jessie Svagdis and Julia Tamburro. Canet used her legs and great left foot to cross the ball several times.

Midway through the first half, Ella Goodman passed the ball to Kaitlyn Moussignac, who dribbled around a defender and scored the first goal, as New Canaan closed out the first half with a 1-0 lead.

During the second half, Kaleigh McCarthy played goalie for New Canaan. The second half was a faster pace as both teams were more aggressive. New Canaan was able to control the ball as both sides took several shots on goal.

Weston scored twice early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead, but New Canaan pulled even when Julia Tamburro scored to make it 2-2.

New Canaan kept a fast pace and held the ball at Weston’s end. New Canaan took a 3-2 lead, but Weston tied it immediately at 3-3.

Minutes later, the New Canaan defense passed the ball back to the goalie, who played the ball with her hands forcing a free kick for Weston, which could not capitalize.

New Canaan eventually gained control of the ball and carried the ball to Weston’s half. The ball was fed to Kaitlyn Moussignac, who shot wide. After the goalie fumbled the ball, it slowly crossed the line  to give New Canaan the 4-3 win.