Woodstock takes care of old rival Plainfield in North final

Woodstock — Conference championship game? Yes. But maybe more importantly Friday night, this was for best two of three this season between two old rivals.

"It's always tough when you play Plainfield," Woodstock Academy junior Parker Anderson said. "The first time we played them, they brought it to us. We had to bring the energy tonight."

The Centaurs, who split with Plainfield during the regular season, brought just enough, holding off the stubborn Panthers, 49-36, earning the Eastern Connecticut Conference North Division title.

Woodstock (11-1) led comfortably early in the third quarter by 15. But the Panthers (103) closed the quarter with a 12-2 run and trailed by five heading to the fourth. Not so comfortable anymore.

"We struggled. They gave us fits," Woodstock coach Marty Hart said. "They know a lot about us, we know a lot about them. Then we started to match their energy."

Hart ran a play for leading scorer Logan Talbot to begin the fourth period. Talbot scored what eventually resulted in a four-point trip for the Centaurs, who weren't threatened again.

Anderson and Talbot led Woodstock with 11 points apiece. Ethan David had 10 for the Centaurs and Andrew Johnson had nine.

"We were hoping to use our depth and play to our strengths," Hart said. "This is a special group. They worked hard every day. Tonight, we faced adversity and we overcame it."

Woodstock would have competed in Division IV of the state tournament this season. Hart and his players would have relished the opportunity.

"We got some great experience down the stretch," Hart said. "We have the tools to make a run. Tonight, we learned how to survive and advance."

Tyler Nordstrom had 11 points to lead the Panthers and Elijah Brady had nine. This was the second straight season Plainfield made some form of an ECC title game. The Panthers lost to St. Bernard in the Div. II championship game last year at Mohegan Sun Arena.