No. 3 Waterford survives scare in tourney opener

Lancers hand on to beat No. 3 Bulkeley in Class M

“These teams are coming from conferences where they’re beating the hell out of each other ... Seedings can be misleading. I’ve got a good team. And to prepare for a team from across the state that you don’t see, you just have to be really ready to go. And it’s not a lot of Xs and Os. It’s about heart and it’s about defense.” WATERFORD COACH BILL BASSETT

Waterford — Waterford received what amounted to an ice-cold bucket of water over the head Monday night.

Now the third-seeded Lancers really know they're in for a fight every step on their jour- ney in the CIAC Class M boys' basketball tournament.

A 72-70 win over No. 30 Bulkeley served as a wake-up call.

"It's like a slap in the face," senior captain Jeff Evans said. "It woke us up. We can't keep taking these teams lightly. It could be our last game."

Evans played with the determination of a senior wanting to extend his high school career, contributing team highs in points (21) and rebounds (12). His two free throws with 10.6 seconds left sealed the verdict, putting the Lancers up 72-67.

Bulkeley hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

Junior Mikey Buscetto finished with 17 points and 12 assists while junior Colin Shannon added 14 points, four blocks and four steals.

Coach Bill Bassett knew that Bulkeley, despite its losing record, would not be a pushover.

"That was the best 30th ranked team out there," Bassett said. "These teams are coming from conferences where they're beating the hell out of each other . ... Seedings can be misleading.

"I've got a good team. And to prepare for a team from across the state that you don't see you just have to be

be really ready to go. And it's not a lot of Xs and Os. It's about heart and it's about defense. ".. We gutted it out at the end." Waterford (20-4) hosts No. 14 Weston, a 75-49 winner over No. 19 Goodwin Tech, at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the second round at Francis X. Sweeney Field House.

Despite never trailing and leading by as many as 16 in the second quarter, it was an uncomfortable tourney opener for the Lancers.

Every time Waterford appeared on the verge of pulling away, Bulkeley responded behind the brilliant play of senior Christopher Ortiz who scored 31 points.

An 11-point halftime lead dipped to just two, 59-57, with six minutes remaining. And moments later, after Buscetto fouled Ortiz and went to the bench with his fourth foul, Ortiz made both free throws to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance 64-61.

What happened next turned the momentum back in Waterford's favor.

With Waterford's playmaking point guard watching from the sideline, Shannon buried a 15-foot jumper and then blocked a shot on the other end. Senior Adam Pinch scored a fast-break basket for a 68-61 edge.

The lead remained at seven until Buscetto returned to the court with 3:15 remaining. Backup point guard Eric Pinch helped run the Lancers in Buscetto's absence. It was a white-knuckle ride to the finish. After the Lancers missed consecutive front ends of one-and-one foul shots, the second one with 23 seconds left, Bulkeley had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer. But Ortiz misfired on a contested drive and Evans iced the win with two free throws.

"We're in a whole different conference than everyone else," Evans said. "We don't know the teams we're playing. We have to take every team like it's a Ledyard or a New London . ... That's how it's going to be for the rest of the tournament."

Bassett drove home his message to his team in the locker room after the game.

"This is not preseason, this is not the regular season," Bassett said. "This is the state tournament . ... This game absolutely got their attention." g.keefe@theday.com