New London - Collin Sawyer has illustrated throughout his high school basketball career at New London an ability to make shots from everywhere but the restrooms and hallways, even with defenders all but affixed to him.

So the idea that you'd ever leave him open ...

"Irritating," Waterford coach Greg Gwudz said Tuesday night.

Indeed. Sawyer's 24 points helped the Whalers overcome a six-point deficit in the second half to overtake the Lancers, 62-51, at Conway Gym, snapping Waterford's seven-game win streak.

The victory all but clinched the Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division for the second-ranked Whalers (14-0, 7-0). New London has three division games remaining and swept the season series from Waterford (12-4, 7-2).

"We hung tough, but we need to be a little mentally stronger," Gwudz said. "Losing Sawyer (on defense) hurts. We're preparing for the tournament. We want to make a run in Class M. There are good players out there. We usually do a good job on the other team's best players. To give him wide open looks, he makes them with a hand in his face, never mind wide open looks. Those points pile up fast."

Sawyer helped a 10-1 run to close the third period for the Whalers, who trailed 36-30 with six minutes left in the quarter.

"They're definitely trying their hardest at all times on defense," Sawyer said, "but most of them are too short, so you can either post them up or shoot right over them."

"Collin knocked down some big shots," New London coach Craig Parker said. "One shot near our bench, the kid was right on him and he just drilled it."

C.J. Parker had 16 points for New London and Nabate Metts added 12.

"They were up (six) and the game might have been able to get away there," Craig Parker said. "I understand Waterford has been playing well over the last two weeks. The big kid (Connor Lewis) has been a lot more active and Landon (Peabody, who transferred from New London) had a decent game."

Peabody scored 20 points to lead Waterford and Jake Mangual had 12.

Peabody has scored at least 20 points three times in the past two weeks for his team. This was Waterford's first loss since being throttled at home by the Whalers Jan. 16.

"We figured this game would be harder," Sawyer said. "Landon would probably do better because it was here at New London."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius