By Michael Letendre
There’s no easy road to a scholastic state championship in basketball.
No matter the talent level, no matter the venue, there’s always a chance for an opponent to sneak off with a win against a top-ranked squad.
Well, two different boys basketball programs from Bristol Central never had that upset bid come their way as the teams in 1989-90 and 2021-22 went undefeated – moving onto state title jaunts.
The Rams of 1989-90 won their championship against St. Joseph in the final seconds, squaring up an amazing 66-65 victory from Central Connecticut State University while the current squad spun Northwest Catholic, 56-36, to tally the program’s second ever championship in Uncasville.
And that 2021 squad could be considered uncrowned champs because the team – due to the pandemic – never was able to go after a title but went a sterling 15-0 and won the CCC Tournament title against three top-five ranked teams in the state.
But the two programs that did win it all from Central had to battle all the elements with that invisible bullseye on their backs.
And both squads from Bristol could have been knocked off in the semifinal round of their respective runs to the championship.
This past season, the Rams needed overtime in its 54-52 triumph against Wilton back on March 15.
But that crew from 1990, with the likes of Malcolm Huckaby, Lonnie Brooks, and Rod Hickey on the court, was pushed in its semifinal showdown as well.
Back on March 14, 1990, the top-ranked Rams had their hands full against No. 12 Warren Harding in a Class semifinal from Quinnipiac College.
That contest was a war as Harding refused to go quietly into the night.
The Rams never trailed in the showdown but led just 37-31 at the half and had to fend off Harding over thirty-two long minutes.
Central enjoyed a large double-figure advantage, leading by 18 in the closing moments of the third period but off a late hoop, Harding was down just four points with 2:30 to play.
The Rams hung on to win in the end – getting to its second ever state championship game.
Brooks scored 24 points in the win while Huckaby added 23 points, 12 boards, and 12 assists.
Hickey nabbed a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, Greg Fradette scored nine, and Duane Salgado added six to the winning effort.
Fast forward to 2022 and that Wilton game was no picnic either in an over-physical affair from the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.
Wilton led by four points midway through the second period but saw that advantage evaporate as a 20-4 burst, capped by a lay-up from Victor Rosa, saw Central holding a 32-20 edge with 3:13 remaining in the third tilt.
But Wilton ended regulation with a 25-13 run and was one completed four-point play away from snaring the edge away from Central late.
The go-ahead charity shot was missed, overtime quickly commenced, and nine free throws later, Central was headed to the Mohegan Sun Arena via the two-point win.
If life was easy, it wouldn’t be this fun.
