game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Pierce helped key the Spartan run that led to the state title. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s Division III state championship game, the second-seeded WCA boys’ basketball team faced its largest deficit.
There were 51 seconds left on the Mohegan Sun Arena scoreboards, and the Spartans trailed top-seeded Bloomfield, 46-39. What happened after that point in time will go down in Waterbury basketball lore.
WCA rallied to beat Bloomfield, 74-58, and claim the school’s first team state championship because it finished the final 8:51 of the game on a stunning 35-12 run.
Here’s more about that run:
When it started: Sonny Pierce made a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the WCA deficit to 46-42. That’s where the score was entering the fourth quarter.
Bloomfield’s last lead: When Drew Williams converted a three-point play with 7:25 to go in the fourth quarter, the Warhawk lead was a single point, 46-45.
WCA goes ahead for good: After Williams tied the game at 46 by making one of two at the foul line with 6:26 to go, he scored on a fast break layup off a Zaire Lott assist for a 48-46 Spartan lead with 5:12 to play.
A gut punch: Pierce somehow got the ball to Lott on the right wing, and the 6-foot-3 junior fired up a 3-pointer that connected. That trey concluded a 14-0 WCA burst and put the Spartans ahead, 53-46, with 4:01 to go in the game.
WCA pours it on: The Warhawks got to within 53-48 and finally ended the 14-0 run, but the Spartans countered with an 11-2 burst. Williams started it with a pair of free throws, and when he made a layup with 2:15 to play, WCA led, 64-50. Bloomfield never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
The final points: Lott made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left to conclude the scoring for the day.
