Ledyard - It was New London coach Craig Parker's son, C.J., who was standing wide open on the right side of the basket with time running out, receiving a pass from teammate Collin Sawyer for the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining Thursday night.

The exhilarating 72-70 victory over Ledyard left New London, ranked fourth in the New Haven Register's Top 10 boys' basketball poll, undefeated at 10-0. After what would prove to be the game-winner, the New London crowd chanted "Whalers, Whalers, Whalers" so loudly, coach Parker had to move his next timeout huddle to the middle of the floor in order to be heard.

Was it the plan, Craig Parker was asked, to give his son, a senior, the ball in that situation? Game on the line? Sold-out crowd?

"I could tell you I'm a great coach and I designed that, but I'd be lying," Parker said. "... He would have been my fifth option."

The winning play was drawn up, instead, for Sawyer, who tied for the team lead with 18 points.

C.J. Parker inbounded the ball in front of the New London bench to Sawyer at the 3-point line. Sawyer, attempting to drive to the basket, beat his man and drew Parker's defender over to help, leaving Parker by himself. Sawyer, despite being on the run, saw him.

"I trusted him to make it," Sawyer said.

Ledyard, 8-2 and also receiving votes in the state poll, got off one last desperation attempt after a timeout with .8 seconds remaining. DeAnte Bruton, who played his freshman and sophomore years at New London before transferring to Ledyard, finished with 26 points to lead the Colonels.

It was the first time the teams have played in the regular season since Dave Cornish, formerly Parker's longtime assistant at New London, took over as Ledyard's head coach prior to the 2011-12 season.

Ledyard's roster featured three players Thursday who formerly played at New London, too, leading to the game's intrigue.

"I think both teams played well," C.J. Parker said. "There were representatives from New London on both teams ... we showed we can ball out."

New London led by 12 points at the end of the first quarter, 24-12, and got an impressive performance off the bench from sophomore Major Roman, a 6-foot-4 center, who entered the game when starter Bryan Cespedes picked up three quick fouls. Roman finished with 14 points, 12 in the first half, including two dunks.

Ledyard's Phyllip Thomas scored eight points in two minutes before halftime, however, as the Colonels pulled closer. After Roman's second dunk made it 41-34 in New London's favor, Thomas hit a jump shot from the middle of the key, then hit two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining that made it 41-38.

There were 10 lead changes in the second half, with Ledyard leading for the final time at 62-61 on a fast break by Bruton. Sawyer drove and was fouled, hitting both free throws to put New London back on top 63-62 with 5:44 to play. New London's Seth Lake then hit a 3-pointer to give the Whalers a little bit of breathing room.

Up 70-66 with 1:10 to play, however, New London, after taking more than 40 seconds off the clock, missed a layup that returned possession to Ledyard. Bruton scored and, following a New London turnover, scored again to make it 70-70 with 23 seconds to play.

New London called a timeout with 9.5 seconds remaining in which Craig Parker drew up the play for Sawyer.

"Some of the best plays are plays that break down," said Parker, who won his 399th game in his 21st season coaching at New London. "I like that we beat them down the stretch on their home court. ... During the moment you don't appreciate it (a high-level game). You're always thinking, 'What defense are we going to do?'"

Nabate Metts also scored 18 points for New London and Parker finished with 15.

Thomas had 16 points for Ledyard and Mario Graham and Andrew Byrd had 12 each. The Colonels were 18-for-27 from the free throw line, the only thing that was stuck in the mind of Cornish.

"Anytime you lose a game it's disappointing," Cornish said, "but it's not the end of the world. It's not like it's a bad loss. If there's any such thing as a good loss and a bad loss, this was a good one, but I don't believe in that. ... It all comes down to the free throws. You can't miss nine free throws against any good team and win."

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Twitter: @vickieattheday