Fitch falls in overtime in Div. II boys' basketball tourney

Falcons make 'a few too many mistakes' in 64-55 loss to Spartans

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The fourth-seeded Fitch Falcons fell to the No. 13 Maloney Spartans 64-55 in overtime in the Division II state tournament second round. The Falcons fought hard but made crucial mistakes down the stretch, allowing the Spartans to pull away in the extra period.

Why it matters

The loss ends a successful season for the Fitch Falcons, who had won the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I tournament earlier in the year. Despite overcoming adversity and a coaching change, the Falcons were unable to advance further in the state tournament.

The details

Fitch and Maloney played an intense, physical game that bordered on spinning out of control at times. The Falcons trailed for much of the first half but rallied to take a 44-39 lead in the fourth quarter. The game was tied at 50-50 at the end of regulation, but Maloney outscored Fitch 14-5 in overtime to secure the victory. Turnovers and foul trouble hurt the Falcons down the stretch.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • Fitch had narrowly survived their first round home game against Waterbury Career on Friday, winning 58-54.

The players

Kareem Brown

The first-year head coach of the Fitch Falcons.

Cayden Simonds-Gaskin

A junior who led Fitch with 19 points.

Xavier Goode

A senior who scored 13 points for Fitch.

Nyzae Tyler

A junior who hit a key 3-pointer to give Fitch their biggest lead of the game.

Eli Showerda

A junior who scored a game-high 22 points for Maloney.

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What they’re saying

“It was a tough one. We fought, though. It was a good game. Great teams, both teams. A scrappy, physical game. An aggressive game, fast game. Both teams did a tremendous job of competing.”

— Kareem Brown, Fitch head coach (theday.com)

“They were all devastated and disappointed. But I know they all were proud of each other. The mood in the locker room was we went out fighting.”

— Kareem Brown, Fitch head coach (theday.com)

What’s next

The Falcons' successful season has come to an end, but the team and coach Kareem Brown can take pride in overcoming adversity and reaching the second round of the state tournament.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the competitive spirit and determination of both the Fitch Falcons and Maloney Spartans, as they battled through a physical, high-intensity matchup. While the Falcons ultimately fell short, their resilience and growth under a new coach point to a bright future for the program.