The Raiders Defeat the Falcons for the NCCC Title

Paul Lima had 18 points, including four three-point baskets, to lead four players in double figures as the Raiders defeated , 71-52, in the finals of the North Central Connecticut Conference basketball tournament Thursday at Enfield High School.

Enfield won the tournament for the second straight year despite a relatively low scoring output by Tre Preston, who averages 26 points a game but was held to just 15 by a smothering Avon defense.

"We did a good job on Tre tonight," Avon coach Chris Vozzolo said. "We put it all out there, but Enfield was a way better team tonight. They came out with too many weapons."

John Cerrato and Hugh Lindo each had 11 points for the Raiders, while Tony Romano added nine.

Matt Naddaff was the only Falcon in double figures, scoring 15 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

Enfield led wire-to-wire, as Lima drained a three-pointer just 14 seconds into the contest. An early 7-0 run gave the Raiders a 10-2 advantage, and the Falcons could get no closer than three the rest of the way.

The Raiders opened up a 36-23 lead by halftime, with Lima and Preston each contributing 11 points. Lindo ended the third quarter in spectacular fashion, sinking a fallaway jumper at the buzzer and canning the ensuing free throw.

Enfield upped the margin to as much as 25 in the fourth quarter, with the Raiders converting 14 free throws in the period. Naddaff hit a pair of treys down the stretch in scoring Avon's final 11 points.

By the time Jeremy Chevalier rejected an Avon shot in the final minute, the Enfield student fan section was in a frenzy, ready to storm the court as the final horn sounded.

"We played very well tonight," Enfield head coach Cory O'Connell said. "I don't know many teams that we play that could've beaten us tonight. Every single player who got on that floor contributed until the last second."

Enfield (20-3) opens play in the Class M state tournament Monday, hosting Norwich Tech at 6:30 p.m. Avon (13-10) begins the Class L tournament on the road, visiting Wilby Tuesday at 7 p.m.