Northwest Catholic Boys Advance To Class L Championship

was messy on offense and a step behind on defense. And for two-and-a-half quarters, Lyman Hall was in the passing lane on the road to Mohegan Sun.

“They weren’t feeling what they were doing,” Northwest Catholic coach John Mirabello said. “We were all out of sorts offensively.”

But NWC recovered, using a 19-4 burst across the second and third quarters to secure a 54-48 victory in the Class L boys basketball semifinals Wednesday before an estimated 2,200 at Central Connecticut State’s Detrick Gymnasium.

“Lyman executed perfectly,” Mirabello said. “We just kind of asked them at halftime, you know, guys, your heart. You’ve played with so much heart this season, that’s who you are, let’s do that for the rest of the game.”

Kuran Iverson had 17 points, JC Carr 13 and Nick Gaynor 10 to lead top-seeded NWC (25-1) to its first state final since 2003.

Gaynor, a sophomore, scored six points in the decisive run. He also helped revive NWC’s pressure defense that was ineffective in the first half as Lyman Hall (19-6) converted second chances and buried six virtually uncontested three-point field goals.

“Number 5? Who’s that?” Carr deadpanned.  “Oh, Nick Gaynor. Oh, yea, he played well. He came through.”

Iverson highlighted the run with a dunk off a steal by Gaynor and an assist by Tyler Huffman, giving NWC a 42-38 lead with 5 minutes, 9 seconds to play. Two free throws each by Carr and Gaynor added some headroom with 2:56 remaining.

“[Gaynor’s] just a tough, fearless kid,” Mirabello said. “He doesn’t say a word. He does whatever you ask him to do. He’s a kid who’s there when we need to pick up our intensity because that’s what he’s all about.”

Lyman Hall did not hit a basket for a 7:17 stretch during the run but were still kicking when Kevin Ruys (14 points) hit a three-pointer with 2:23 to go, closing to 47-44. Then NWC delivered a 6-0 knockout, including a thrilling right-handed fastbreak slam by Tony Seldon.

“When he did that, it was like, OK, we’re finally over the hump,” Mirabello said. “Now we’re feeling good. Now they’re excited and the momentum has swung completely. That was a huge momentum changer for us.”

Ruys hit three of his four three-pointers in the first half. Jason Dempsey scored 11 points and P.J. Higgins added 10 for Lyman Hall.

“We tried to limit [Iverson], limit his touches and make his team win the basketball game and they did,” Lyman Hall coach Michael Conner said. “They picked up the slack.”

NWC will play third-seeded New London (26-0) Saturday at 6:15 p.m. before an expected 8,000-plus at the Mohegan Sun. New London rolled over No. 2 Maloney, 72-56.

“Everyone came through … for the fans, for the program,” Carr said. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Mohegan. I’ve always wanted this championship. I’ve always wanted this opportunity. It’s been hard work since Day 1.”

NWC, which won the Class L title in 2003, will be seeking its seventh state championship – and . NWC won Class M in 1972, 1973, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

“The kids hung in there," Mirabello said. “I really feel – and this is no disrespect to Lyman Hall – but that wasn’t our best but we were able to get through it. To miss that many shots and to play that poorly and we’re still playing, that’s encouraging.”

Lyman Hall led 13-7 after the first quarter, 20-11 midway through the second, and 26-20 at halftime.

“We knew we had to put our heart into it in the second half and we just did what we had to do,” Carr said.