By Michael Letendre
As the scholastic winter sports season is finally arriving – in terms of basketball and boys swimming at least – the upcoming schedule has some intriguing city series games coming up.
In boys and girls hoop, Central and Eastern square off for the first time on February 12 in the first of two meetings in 2021.
And in term of girls action, the Lancers are on quite a winning streak against the Rams.
Though that streak is not as long as BE’s domination over BC in volleyball, Central last defeated Eastern in basketball back in 2004.
Will that streak carry into 2021?
Perhaps, but that one-sided domination wasn’t always the case between the schools.
Just over a quarter-century ago, the rivalry between the two public programs in the city was competitive, fierce, and the contests usually went down to the wire.
Back on January 31, 1994, Central and Eastern each had outstanding teams and duked it out against one another for the first time that season.
In terms of state rankings, Eastern came into the tilt against Central as a top ten squad – anchored by two sensational seniors, Jessica Byrnes and Tricia Tycz.
The duo were the remaining players from the Lancers last state championship squad in 1991 and the seniors, who each could do a little of everything on the hardwood, led the team at an outstanding 9-2 ledger going into the city series clash.
Coach Tony Floyd’s roster had several juniors including sharp-shooter Bevin Borajkiewicz, forward Bevin Shappy, and guard Jess Rajotte.
Also seeing action that evening was future Keene State softball star Beth Ponte and reserve guards Amy Blakley and Gina Plourde.
Central entered the game at 9-3 overall and had several talented players on its squad, coached by Gary Fleming (who is probably happy that the TBE isn’t taking about the BC/BE volleyball rivalry this week…).
Starting up front for the Rams was senior Heather Whitehead (Central Connecticut State University), who would run over anything on the court that didn’t wear a Bristol Central uniform.
At nearly 5-foot-10, she was a double-double machine and one of the best players the CCC South had to offer.
And then there was Ernestine Austin, a jack-of-all-trades sophomore that ended up scoring a combined 1,000-plus points between Central and Eastern (she transferred to Eastern as a senior) before heading off to Syracuse and later, the University of Hartford.
Also contributing to the Rams’ cause over the 1993-94 campaign were Amanda Austin, a talented junior guard, senior Jill Nocera, senior Misse Parker, sophomore Jane Bialosuknia, Sarah Killiany, Gayle Zahnke and Jill Porrini among other players that helped add depth to Central’s bench.
The contest went back-and-forth with Central leading after one completed frame, then trailed at the half before looking up at a 43-37 deficit through three.
But fourth quarter heroics by Central doomed Eastern as the Rams racked up a thrilling 60-51 victory from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium.
Amanda Austin made critical steals late, the Lancers couldn’t buy a free throw throughout the contest and a balanced Central offensive attack led to doom and demise for the Kingstreeters.
Whitehead – helping to fuel a 23-8 fourth period run with eight points – led all scorers with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds – while Amanda Austin zipped in 12.
Ernestine Austin dropped in nine points, Porrini tallied eight while Parker netted four to help the home standing Rams.
Tycz led the Lancers 16 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals while Byrnes supplied 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and a team-leading five steals.
Borajkiewicz scored 14 points to go along with three rebounds, and three assists, Shappy added five points and a team best eight rebounds while Blakley also scored a hoop.
This was a time in scholastic history when Eastern wasn’t a big time user of the three-point line.
Borajkiewicz was known to bury a 3-point field goal every other game but two years later, the Lancers’ program tallied just one 3-pointer all season long.
And then there was the free throw shooting, by both squads, that made Shaquille O’Neal – one of the worst foul shooters in NBA history – look like a superior marksmen from the charity stripe.
Central went 7-of-18 from the foul line while Eastern faltered to an uninspiring 8-of-21 – missing four of its five attempts over the final eight minutes of action that could have slowed down the Rams’ game-ending run.
Six different players for Central netted a hoop over the first period as the Rams nabbed a 16-11 edge through one completed frame.
But in a blistering second quarter of play, Tycz and Byrnes dropped in a combined 15 points as Eastern assumed control of the showdown, leading 31-28 at the break.
Borajkiewicz scored five of Eastern’s 12 third quarter points as Eastern nabbed a six-point edge (43-37) with one frame to go.
Midway through the final period, Eastern held a 46-42 push but Central quickly made it’s game-winning run.
The Rams outscored the Lancers 18-5 to finish the showdown and as Central ended the final quarter with a 23-point explosion, the home team came away with a huge nine-point win to move to 10-3 overall and 5-2 in CCC South play.
Eastern fell to 9-3 overall (4-2 CCC South) off the losing engagement.
Both squads finished the year by hosting Class LL state tournament games.
No. 13 Central end the year falling to No. 20 Rockville by a 47-43 final.
Eastern, ranked 11th in the LL field, defeated No. 22 Fairfield (46-34) in first round play before bowing out to No. 6 Manchester, 65-50, to finish the season.
