By Michael Letendre
In another huge Central Connecticut Conference boys basketball Tournament engagement, the team from Bristol Central high school proved – once again – why the program is one of the elite squads in all the state.
And the Rams continued its trek through the abbreviated postseason with another victorious effort to remain undefeated.
Fourth ranked Central earned the right to take on No. 2 East Catholic in the CCC Tournament championship game as the locals defeated top-ranked Northwest Catholic by a 71-60 final from Mirabello Court at Northwest Catholic high school in West Hartford on Wednesday night.
Both Central and East Catholic will enter the CCC Tournament title tilt at 14-0 overall and the outcome should decide which squad ends up No. 1 in not just the CCC in the state as well.
Playing on enemy soil, the Rams saw its supporting cast start the fourth period on fire and then their big guy took over to seal the deal.
Junior center Donovan Clingan put up his usual playoff numbers, posting 36 points and 27 rebounds to lead his squad over another monster effort.
Northwest was physical with Clingan throughout but once the final period commenced, he made a quick hoop, and then Sean Wininger, Carson Rivoira, and the crafty Eli Rodriguez strung together some huge plays – on both sides of the ball – to stretch out the lead.
Rodriguez was simply outstanding, flipping in 10 big points which included seven over a critical eighty-three second stretch over the final quarter.
Rivoira added his three points early in the fourth while Wininger notched his eight points over critical junctures of the game.
Victor Rosa scored seven points off the pine, D’Ante Ross nabbed five while Damion Glasper added a hoop for the winning effort.
The Lions ended its season at 13-1 but gave the Rams one heck of a battle through three quarters of play.
Rhandyn Bair flashed in a team-high 18 points, Matt Curtis hit for 17 while Hayden Abdullah added 13.
Northwest was content to chuck up NBA range 3s, floaters and other shots in attempts to stay away from Clingan and his shot-blocking abilities.
Those attempts by Northwest fell early but over the fourth and final frame, baskets were hard to come by as Central took off with the lead.
The Rams led wire-to-wire in the first period, saw the score change hands four times over second and third quarters of play before snaring a 15-point edge midway through the fourth period to secure the victory.
In the end, it all led to Central’s biggest win of the year.
Clingan, who entered the game hitting only one three-pointer all season long, dropped in two 3s to open the game and when he put-back an offensive rebound for a hoop, it was an 8-2 contest in Central’s favor just 1:49 into things.
Wininger hit a three late in the quarter but a basket from Northwest’s Jehyvic Spencer closed the deficit to two before a couple charity tosses by Clingan – who scored 14 points over the first eight minutes of the game – made it a 19-15 contest in Central’s favor.
The Lions used a 9-2 run, capped by free throws from Curtis, to open the second quarter as the Rams trailed 24-21 with 3:16 left.
But Central scored eight of the final 10 points in the second as Wininger canned a 3, as did Rosa, and when Clingan put in a hoop with seven second left, the Rams led 29-26 at intermission.
In the third tilt, the visitors ran out to a 35-27 edge as a sweet hook shot and two free throws from Clingan made it an eight-point affair with 6:11 to go.
But Northwest remained in the mix, scoring points on Central turnovers, and when Curtis cashed in a steal for a lay-up, the home team scooped up a 42-40 edge with 2:57 remaining in the third.
A floater from Justin Ashberry gave the Lions a three-point lead late but Rodriguez drained a 3 to tie the game and when Clingan beat the buzzer with a lay-up, Central never trailed again – scooping up a 48-46 lead with one quarter to go.
Two free throws from Curtis with 5:38 remaining trimmed the deficit back to two again (53-51) but time ran out on the Lions as Rodriguez heated up.
Carson found Rodriguez for a 3 and off a steal, the guard banked in a basket as Central nabbed a 58-51 lead.
From there, Carson put home a lay-up, a Rodriguez steal put him at the line and after two free throws with 4:12 to play, the Rams’ cushion reached 62-51.
Clingan eventually took over, scoring seven points over a 9-2 Central jaunt and when the center scored one final hoop with 2:03 left, the game was all but over as the Rams were in charge by a 71-56 push – eventually winning the showdown by eleven.
CCC TOURNAMENT, semifinal game – Championship bracket
No. 4 BRISTOL CENTRAL 71, No. 1 NORTHWEST CATHOLIC 60
from Mirabello Court, Northwest Catholic high school in West Hartford
Bristol Central (14-0) 19 10 19 23 – 71
Northwest Catholic (13-1) 15 11 22 14 – 60
Records: Bristol Central 14-0 overall; Northwest Catholic 13-1
