MIDDLETOWN - A trip down memory lane: March 15th 2016...

       Every once in a while a sporting event lives up to its hype.

       Middletown and Newington boys’ basketball teams played an instant classic, exceeding the incredible hoopla leading up to the event, in the semifinals of the Class L tournament last Tuesday night at a sold out Berlin High School.

       Middletown’s Ahmod Privott scored 10 of his team-high 20 points in overtime as the Blue Dragons prevailed with a zany 73-68 victory in front of over 1500 screaming spectators, earning the program their first championship appearance since 1994.

       â€�"I wanted to get to Mohegan. Mohegan is the big prize,” said Privott following the momentous win, â€�"I thought it was our time and I wanted this team to experience it. I’m hungry, my team is hungry and we wanted to get there and win.”

       The win was extra sweet for Middletown, because Newington had dealt the Blue Dragons one of their three losses this season back on December 21st at Newington High. Since that game the two teams had combined to win 46 of 48 games, each outscoring their opponents by over 20 points per game.

       The importance of the game, combined with the proximity and rivalry between the two schools, had fans waiting outside the venue in Berlin up to four hours before the game tipped. Once inside it was a sea of black and white, as the Newington student section was dressed in all black and the Middletown student section was decked out in all white.

       The powerhouse teams didn’t disappoint their adoring fans, providing four and a half quarters of electrifying basketball.

       Some games are a tale of two halves, but the semifinal showdown was a tale of three-thirds.

       The underdog Blue Dragons used terrific outside shooting, jumping out to a 9-0 lead early in the first quarter and increasing that advantage to as many as 20 points early in the second half. Emmett Riddick helped balloon the lead, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the second quarter and then draining a three-pointer to open the third, providing Middletown a 41-21 lead. A minute later, Tyshaun James threw down a thunderous dunk, bringing the crowd to their feet and making the score 45-25 with 5:05 left in the third.

       Undaunted, the scrappy Indians slowly chipped away at the large deficit and ended the second half on a 32-12 run.

       â€�"It was all heart. All year we’ve never given up and that’s been the motto,” senior captain Zach Tinkham said about the team’s tremendous comeback. â€�"We’ve been together for two years and at no point did we believe that we would lose this game. We just came up short.”

       After being held to a single point in the first half, forward Dante Phillip began to control the inside, scoring 10 of his 16 points during the second-half surge and another five in the extra session.

       Newington’s leading scorer Jared Simmons also caught fire, scoring nine of his game-high 24 points in the fourth. During his fantastic fourth, the junior guard became the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Austin Knowlin, who held the school-record since 2006.

       With five second remaining in regulation and the game tied at 57, Simmons came within inches of capping the miraculous comeback, but his desperation 30-footer rimmed off, sending the game into overtime.

       Newington took their first lead of the game in the extra session on a pair of foul shots from Phillip, but it was short-lived as Privott began to go to work.

       The junior guard missed two foul shots to begin overtime, but bounced back to hit two threes, a layup and a pair of free-throws over a four minute span to seal the deal.

       â€�"We knew that if we didn’t make our foul shots we weren’t going to win. This game came down to a lot of key foul shots,” said Privott, who added his head coach and uncle, Rick Privott, had a message for the players after blowing the 20-point lead, â€�"He was telling us to get back on defense, keep our head in the game and play smart. We needed to move our feet, because we were getting in foul trouble.”

       The loss ended a terrific season for the Indians of Newington. They became the first team in school history of finish the regular season undefeated (20-0) and made the semifinals for the first time since 1963.

       â€�"It seemed like the whole community was behind us. We loved it,” an emotional Zach Tinkham reflected, â€�"When we came into high school, we never could have believed that we’d have sellout gyms and we did it. We’re happy that we can be an inspiration for the community. We’re sorry we came up short, but that’s life.”

       Tinkham is one of six seniors on Newington’s roster. Phillip, Connor Buckley, Pablo Ortiz, Brett Frank, and Cameron Fedina are the other five that played their final game in a Newington uniform.

       â€�"We love each other and we will always love each other. We’re like family. We came up short, but we’ll still love each other forever,” added Tinkham, â€�"The juniors got more experience and next year they’ll be back. Once you’re a part of this program, you’re here forever. The seniors will be back to support, but we just won’t be wearing a uniform. The program is in a strong, positive direction.”

       The win sent Middletown to the Class L title game against East Catholic. The Blue Dragons came up just short of their first championship victory in a dozen years, losing to the Manchester-based Eagles 62-51 at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday night.