New London – The memory is as vivid today as it was 25 years ago. Tommy Thompson, the man who would be principal here one day, walking off the field after his last high school practice.

The next day was The Game. New London High vs. Ansonia for the state football championship. But this, the last practice, offered similar finality. It was as if the universe conspired in the allegory, too. As the Whalers walked to the locker room after the last time they’d ever set foot on Cannamela Field together, the sun was setting, a metaphor almost too perfect.

Tommy Thompson and many of his teammates fought back tears that day as they walked the final walk. Most lost the battle. It was the ultimate sign of a great program: when leaving is tougher than losing.

And now it was Friday afternoon, 25 years later, and Tommy Thompson, the man who runs New London High now, had just participated in a pep rally for the girls’ basketball team a few hours earlier. This was the same guy running around looking for someone to hug in the pile of humanity last week, after Rosie Nicholson beat the buzzer and Stamford simultaneously. Thompson was somewhere in the building when the girls of New London High set foot on their basketball court for the final time.

The last practice.

For the seniors: ever.

For the others: It’ll never be like this, with these teammates and these dynamics, ever again.

Saturday? State championship game against Trumbull, Mohegan Sun Arena, in prime time.

But Friday? The last time in their house together as a team. Ever.

And so while it would be disingenuous to suggest the outcome of Saturday’s game is irrelevant, the bittersweet nature of the day tells so much more about the program.

What began four years ago with Kerrianne Dugan has played out as symphonically under Holly Misto. A program. Leaving is tougher than losing.

This was the day that all the memories come in a stampede, leaving the dramatis personae a bit confused in processing them. It’s not just the games. It’s the bus rides. The inside jokes. Funny texts. Funny tweets. All the million little things that make a season. And along the way inspire lifelong friendships.

Not just for the kids. It’s been a hoot watching Misto and assistants Arianna Dolock and Missy Parker this season. They just … work. A connection. Chemistry. It’s like a great relationship: How to explain why some relationships work so well? Sometimes, there aren’t words. It’s just an energy. And they have it. From how they interact on the bench to how they laugh the nights away at Mr. G’s after. Bet they’ll miss each other in the offseason as much as the kids.

And so now this wonderful ride has reached the 18th green, culminating in one game, one chance, one night to finish it right. Here’s some advice: Do it for each other. Not anyone else.

New London kids hear the hallowed stories about the green and gold, tradition and those who came before them a lot. They’re told they represent their feisty city. And they do. And they will Saturday. Really, though, the championship game is about each other. Everything they’ve experienced together. Everything they mean to each other. This is about three coaches and about 12 kids tonight. Everyone else is along for the ride.

So enjoy it, folks. Get there early and support a group of kids who have represented the school and city with the dignity they both deserve. They really like each other, support each other and have singlehandedly changed the perception of girls and girls’ sports in their school.

They walked out of Conway Gym for the last time together early Friday night.

Every last one of them felt the finality.

Leaving is tougher than losing.

There is no greater compliment for a team.

This the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro