NEWINGTON – Newington senior Josiah Sims said he didn’t feel any pressure after hitting a layup and drawing a foul in the third quarter of the basketball game Thursday night against Hall – even though he knew he needed one more point to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
He missed the free throw. But it didn’t faze him.
“I knew it was going to happen eventually,” Sims said.
And it did. Less than two minutes later, on a fast break, Jalen Douglas faked a shot, then dumped the ball down low to Sims, who scored on a layup. The game stopped for a brief celebration, then Sims and Newington went back to work.
“He took over at that point,” Newington coach Scot Wenzel said. “He does so much for us.”
Sims scored 17 points and had 12 rebounds in the Nor’easters’ 67-52 win over Hall. Shawn Hudson added 15 points for Newington (6-1).
And Sims is just starting to get into his basketball groove, after starring as a linebacker, running back and wide receiver for the Newington football team, which advanced to the Class MM semifinal for the second straight year.
“I started out the season very slow,” Sims said. “I’m just now getting out of the football mentality.”
Wenzel said Sims has over 800 rebounds and could reach that 1,000-rebound milestone as well this season.
“That’s his next goal,” Wenzel said. “It’s a credit to him; I don’t know how many players (in the state) have had 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds – that’s pretty special.
Newington senior Josiah Sims scores his 1,000th point in Newington’s 67-52 win over Hall Thursday night. Sims had 17 points and 12 rebounds and hopes to reach the 1,000 rebound milestone this season as well #ctbb pic.twitter.com/BwH3Zuzq1T
— Lori Riley (@lrileysports) January 9, 2026
“I’m grateful to be able to coach him. He’s a great kid. I love what he brings to the floor. He loves the grind – rebounding, getting on the floor – he’ll do whatever it takes to get a win.”
That’s a credit to his football mentality and his physicality; Sims is a solid 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. He rushed for 1,442 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Nor’easters; he was also the football team’s leading receiver (280 yards, three TDs) and 68 tackles and two sacks on defense.
“He loves the physicality of the game,” Wenzel said. “There aren’t too many kids who are as physical as him, who rebound the way he does.
“He’s had a career of double-doubles – that speaks to his athleticism and his toughness.”
Hall (5-2) didn’t make it easy for Sims or Newington, which led 29-28 at halftime. The game was close until the fourth quarter when Newington broke it open. Sims hit a 3-pointer with 6:01 left to put the Nor’easters up 53-45 and they continued to expand the lead.
“It’s a quality win,” Wenzel said. “It kind of went back and forth in the first half. In the second half, our guys took over, Josiah being one of them. I give our guys a lot of credit, defensively we picked it up in the second half.”
Newington 67, Hall 52
Hall 14 14 14 10 – 52
Newington 18 11 19 19 – 67
H- Timothy O’Brien 3 2 8, Isaiah Gaston 3 2 10, Nico Gilbert 2 0 6, Dalin Fotache 1 0 2, Zachary Debin 3 1 8, Lincoln Bush 1 2 4. Eli Kramer 2 0 6, Max St. Arromand 3 2 8. Totals:18 9 52.
N- Josiah Sims 8 0 17, Jalen Douglas 2 3 7, Kellen Roby 4 0 11, Jayriel Garcia 1 1 4, Shawn Hudson 5 2 15, Victor Rodriguez 1 0 2, Silas Jefferson 5 0 11. Totals: 26 6 67.
Records: Hall, 5-2; Newington, 6-1.