Bunnell Grinds Out Second-Ever State Title In Boys Hoops

UNCASVILLE, CT — What appeared to be a blowout at the half ended up being a CIAC Division III rock fight as the Bunnell Bulldogs of Stratford ground their way to a 45-40 state title over the Lewis Mills Spartans.

But the score didn't matter to Bunnell coach Dannie Powell, only the outcome, which was a euphoria-inducing endeavor his team will never forget.

And when the shots suddenly stopped falling for Bunnell in the third quarter, Powell and his unit didn't panic amid the bright lights of the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

After all, offense in basketball, Powell said, comes and goes in streaks and runs. But defense never goes away.

"We prided ourselves on defense the whole year," Powell said after celebrating with his team. "That's been our staple all year."

It was the Bulldogs' second-ever state title, as they previously won a crown in 2015.

For the Spartans, who were looking to win their program's second championship (last won in 1996) it was simply not to be, despite a high-intensity effort from the players and the large student section assembled behind the basket.

The fifth-seeded Bunnell entered Saturday's CIAC Division III boys basketball title game with a 19-5 record, including tourney play.

Meanwhile, the second-seed Lewis Mills High School Spartans in Burlington (Regional School District 10 with Harwinton) entered at 19-4. They are coached by Ryan Raponey.

The game started fast and furious, with both sides exchanging baskets as the Bulldogs took the lead 15-12, led by senior guard Jordan Ricketts' 10 points.

Employing tight, man-to-man defense, Bunnell methodically pushed the lead up to 29-20 at the half, led by Ricketts' 13 points.

He would finish with 15 points and 6 rebounds, garnering the game's MVP award.

After falling behind by 11 early in the second half, Mills fought back to cut the lead to two points, fueled in part by some ice-cold shooting and turnovers from Bunnell.

The Bulldogs, however, stopped the bleeding enough to take a four-point lead at the end of three quarters, 35-31.

In the fourth quarter, after trailing for most of the game, Mills evened the contest at 35 on a driving basket by senior Connor Evans, who missed a free throw to give the Spartans the lead.

Mills took the lead 37-35 when senior freshman Thomas Dinunzio laid it in on a drive to the hoop, only for Bunnell to even up the score at 37 on a hoop by junior Jordan Pierce.

From there, it became a five-and-a-half-minute tussle for glory.

As both sides exchanged baskets, and the lead, it became clear this contest wasn't going to end quietly for either side.

But then Bunnell turned on the defense, a critical element in the victory.

"At the end of the day, I knew the biggest thing was our defense," Powell said.

With about two and a half minutes left, Ricketts decided it was his time, as a driving layup put the Bulldogs up 43-40, prompting a Mills timeout.

As the game's pace grew more furious by the second, Bunnell willed their way to a lead and ultimate victory.

Bunnell went up 45-40 and sweated out a few Mills possessions before their day at the Sun ended in joy.

For Ricketts, it was the end of a stressful, but exhilarating win. He now hopes to play in college somewhere.

"It was very satisfying, stress relieving," Ricketts said after the game. "We did everything we could to win the game."

For Powell, a self-proclaimed "Stratford guy," this wasn't just a victory for the team or school, but for the entire Stratford community.

"It means everything," an emotional Powell said. "It was a goal we set out for from the very beginning. "I can't really put it into words. It is kind of surreal."

For the full statistics and recap of the game, click on this link.