NFA’s perfect season will be put to the test by Ledyard

ECC Div. I final follows D-II title game between Saints and Plainfield

The basketball players of Norwich Free Academy were plenty excited last season to be part of the league's first foray with Mohegan Sun Arena. The Wildcats certainly contributed to the nearly 4,000 people in the building, too, despite their loss to Waterford in the Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament championship game.

But now? Last season's circumstances feel downright pedestrian compared to this.

NFA — make that undefeated NFA — has a chance to win a league title on the same floor as LeBron once played tonight and keep its record unblemished in the process. NFA (22-0) meets Ledyard in the Division I title game at 8, following the Div. II game between Plainfield and St. Bernard at 6. The Day will stream both games live on theday.com.

Despite the excitement and the potential history of tonight, NFA coach Chris Guisti is more interested in the process.

"One possession at a time," he said Saturday night after his team's win over Waterford in the semifinals. "Honestly, that's all that matters. One possession and one play at a time."

It's very likely that junior Mason Jackson will be heavily involved in each play, too. Jackson's 26 points and 14 rebounds led the Wildcats on Saturday. He'll be joined by Xavier Marquez, Jared Martin and Nolan Molkenthin, all of whom have experience

playing at Mohegan Sun from last year.

Ledyard, meanwhile, is the last school in the league not named Waterford to win a tournament title. The Colonels (14-8) are playing better, buoyed by a road win at West Haven last week and an overtime win over Fitch in the semifinals. Fitch had beaten Ledyard twice during the regular season.

"We're excited," Ledyard coach Dave Cornish said. "We know the kind of season NFA has had. We're

looking forward to the opportunity."

Jabari Jones led the Colonels with 26 points in the win over Fitch.

Ledyard has two senior guards (Omar Whitmore and Jaiden Bickham), go-to players in Jones and Dorell Cagle and some length with Xander Hutchins and Daryl McGraw. This, however, will be the first time the Colonels have played at Mohegan Sun.

St. Bernard, meanwhile, will be playing at Mohegan for the second straight season and seeking its third straight Div. II title.

St. Bernard (15-7) swept the season series, winning 65-46 on Jan. 29 at home and 60-50 on Feb. 18 at Plainfield.

The Panthers (12-10) knocked off No. 3 Montville 51-46 in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Griswold 51-42 in the semis.

"We've won six out of the last eight games,'' said Plainfield coach Bob Arremony, "and we played well in the ones we lost.''

Brett Weldy led Plainfield's inside game against Griswold.

"The big kid (Weldy) is really good and their guard play is good,'' said St. Bernard coach Mark Jones. "And they're on a high because they just won. We're going to have to play well to win that game. I'm really impressed with their team. We have our work cut out for us.''

And with few veterans in his lineup, Jones is excited.

"It's just unbelievable to see how much joy these kids are having because they're able to go to Mohegan Sun and play at an arena like that. The one thing you do is prepare like you normally would,'' said Jones. "You don't try to change up too much or try to do things you don't normally do.'' m.dimauro@theday.com