Bridgeport - Never, really, in his 16 years coaching at New London High School has Craig Parker been angrier. And it wasn't because the sixth-ranked Whalers lost a game Wednesday night at Webster Bank Arena in the Northeast Christmas Classic. It was the circumstances that led to the 57-52 loss to No. 1 St. Joseph of Trumbull.

Start here: St. Joseph shot 34 free throws to New London's 11. The Whalers were called for 23 fouls to St. Joseph's 11. New London's Kris Dunn fouled out with 6 minutes, 57 seconds left in a tie game. Teammate Keith Porter followed a minute later.

"I wish I never brought my team down here," Parker said, after needing several minutes after the game to calm himself.

The Whalers (4-2) darn near won the game without Dunn and Porter, tying it at 49 on Doug Henton's 3-pointer with three minutes left. But the Cadets (5-0) who made four fewer field goals in the game than the Whalers, essentially won the game at the foul line and by stifling New London's offense the rest of the way.

"We made the shots we had to make," St. Joseph's coach Vito Montelli said.

Dunn, who led the Whalers with 27 points, had three fouls in the first nine minutes, highlighted by a technical foul that followed a jump ball.

"I clapped my hands and said 'come on,'" Dunn said. "The ref said that I screamed at him. I've never screamed at a ref in my life. I tried to explain myself, but he didn't want to hear it."

Dunn was somewhat tentative with the three fouls, a trait he shared with his teammates. New London trailed by as many as 11 in the first half, but cut it to eight by halftime.

The Whalers held St. Joe's to six points in the third period and rallied to take a 40-39 lead.

Dunn had three fouls entering the fourth period, but was gone in 1:03.

"Fouling out is brutal," Dunn said. "I'm mad I wasn't there for my team."

But if there is a more dire predicament than losing your best player against the state's No. 1 team for the final seven minutes, the Whalers didn't show it.

"We kept fighting," Dunn said.

"I learned we have a good team," Parker said. "I've read stuff in the papers down here (in Bridgeport) that New London doesn't have any other players (except Dunn), (St. Joe's senior) Timajh Parker is the best player in the state and that New London wasn't deserving of the preseason No. 1 ranking."

Malcolm Simmons had nine points for the Whalers and Henton finished with eight.

James Jennings led the Cadets with 18.

New London plays Friday against traditional state power Weaver of Hartford at 7 p.m. at Conway Gym.

m.dimauro@theday.com