The 1989-1990 high school basketball season was a good one for Bristol schools.
The Bristol Central boys won the Class L state championship. On the girls side, Bristol Eastern dethroned four-time defending champion Southington to claim the Class LL state title.
Ginny Ziogas led the Lancers with 18 points in the 58-50 victory over the Blue Knights. Shonda Brooks had a monster game with 14 points and 26 rebounds and was named tournament MVP. Sara Scarritt tallied 13 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. Helen Pikiell added eight points for Bristol Eastern.
The Blue Knights were making their sixth straight appearance in the Class LL state championship game on the night of March 9 at CCSU’s Detrick Gymnasium. The Lancers had won two championships previously under Tony Floyd and returned to the final game for the first time since 1987, when they were in Class L.
The game did not get off to a good start for Bristol Eastern, which trailed Southington 6-0 before Floyd called a timeout less than three minutes in. The Lancers got the nerves out and wound up taking a 12-10 lead on a Ziogas drive from the wing. The Knights led at the half, however, 28-24.
Southington again led by six points, 32-26, early in the third quarter. Bristol Eastern crept back into the game and caught its opponent at 36-all. When reserve Tracy Pomerenke scored her lone point of the game on a free throw, the Lancers led, 37-36, with 1:47 remaining in the quarter.
With seven seconds left in the third quarter, the game was tied, 41-41. Ziogas brought the ball over halfcourt, then shot a 3-pointer that was nearly 10 feet behind the line. The shot hit nothing but net, the buzzer sounded, and Bristol Eastern led, 44-41, going into the fourth quarter.
Brooks battled for a couple baskets in the paint in the fourth quarter, but Southington was within three points, 53-50, with 1:47 to go. The Knights had a chance to get closer, but missed the front end of the one-and-one. Scarritt made a pair of foul shots at the 1:41 mark, then did it again with 57 seconds left. The Lancers led, 57-50, and the Knights didn’t have enough time to rally. Fittingly, Scarritt pulled down the final rebound and passed to Melanie Buchanan, who tossed the ball into the air at the buzzer. Final score: Bristol Eastern 58, Southington 50.
The Lancers finished the 1989-1990 season with a record of 23-1. Bristol Eastern topped West Haven, Newington and Staples to reach the state final. Anyone who faced the Lancers had to deal with an aggressive full-court pressure defense. For many teams, the Bristol Eastern press unraveled them and blew the game open.
The Lancers seemed to have plenty of luck with buzzer-beaters in their state tournament run. Ziogas banked in a two-pointer at the buzzer to send Bristol Eastern into the locker room with a 20-17 lead over Newington at the half of their quarterfinal game.
In the semifinal against Staples, Pomerente sank a shot to end the first half and give Bristol Eastern a commanding 32-18 lead. The Wreckers battled back and had their chances in the final minutes, but missed, and Pikiell helped seal the victory at the foul line.
