Mohegan — It will be one day removed Sunday from the one-year anniversary of Waterford High School's first trip to play basketball inside Mohegan Sun Arena for the first time. The coaches and players arrived early for the 10:30 start to the CIAC Division III state championship game, trying hard not to appear too wide-eyed about the enormity of the experience.

And now the Lancers are an illustration of how much can change in a year. Mohegan's magnitude is nearly routine, given that Sunday's Division II title game will be Waterford's third appearance at the arena in the last 364 days.

Top-seeded Waterford, which plays No. 6 New Britain for the title at 6 p.m., beat Avon 90-67 last March 18 for the second state title in program history. The Lancers also defeated Norwich Free Academy 65-60 last month for the Eastern Connecticut Conference Div. I title in Neon Uncasville.

"Can't wait," guard Kenny Hill said of the opportunity after Tuesday's 83-75 overtime win over Manchester in the semifinals. "We love playing at Mohegan."

Waterford coach Bill Bassett said after Tuesday's game, "It's just an amazing place to play and an amazing opportunity. We're thankful."

The Lancers (25-1), who have not lost since Jan. 18, have won 40 of their last 41 games.

They're also well aware that win No. 41 would come with a high degree of difficulty. New Britain, which has several quality wins this season, hails from the Central Connecticut Conference, arguably the state's best league this season. Bassett likened New Britain to Manchester, whose quickness forced 10 turnovers in the third quarter alone Tuesday night.

The Hurricanes, who have not won a state title since 1950, are 0-2 against the ECC this season. They lost at home to East Lyme in late December, thanks to 42 points and 11 rebounds from Dev Ostrowski and at Ledyard in mid-February.

Bassett noted that the Ledyard loss was New Britain's second game in as many days and third of that particular week.

New Britain has nine seniors, led by Kaiyon Gunn, Shamah Charles and Isaiah Jenkins. Coach Kurt Reis, formerly at Hartford Public, has played New London and Ledyard frequently in previous years.

m.dimauro@theday.com