Waterford — It looked, sounded and felt like the old days at the “X” Thursday night, more than 1,000 fans and dueling student sections creating a considerable din to watch two blood rivals try to advance in the conference tournament.

Except that everyone kind of forgot this was the conference tournament. To them, it was more.

“The buzz around school today? Another level,” Waterford High School coach Bill Bassett said. “Hey. It’s Waterford-East Lyme for the third time this year. Enough said.”

Bassett managed to speak through a wide grin, the residual effect of his 100th career victory, a 59-50 win that gave the fourth-seeded Lancers two of three in the season series and a date with undefeated Norwich Free Academy in Saturday’s Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament semifinals.

Waterford senior Liam Kane arrived at the Francis X. Sweeney Fieldhouse late Thursday afternoon knowing he’d be assigned Nate Diaz, the East Lyme senior who rained 28 points on Waterford last week. Kane’s flushed cheeks and thoroughly exhausted look after the game illustrated his level of effort.

Diaz scored but eight points, one basket while Kane was guarding him. Kane also scored 16 points, including two huge free throws with 35 seconds left that gave Waterford (10-11) a six-point lead.

“I admit I was tired,” Kane said. “But this is most likely my last basketball season. I could be tired some other time. This is a great rivalry. We all wanted this one really bad.”

Bassett: “Liam is more known for his offense, but right now, I look at his offense as icing on the cake. He guarded one of the best shooters in the ECC tonight. He’s becoming one of the best defenders in this league.”

Ryan O’Connell led the Lancers with 21 points and eight rebounds.

TJ Horner had 15 points for East Lyme (6-15).

“Both teams made their share of hair-pulling mistakes,” East Lyme coach Jeff Bernardi said. “But I thought the difference was that they did a better job capitalizing than we did.”

And so now Waterford, which has won three straight, finds itself in a most curious position. The two-time defending ECC and state champs will be underdogs in their own gym Saturday in the semifinals. NFA defeated Waterford by double digits twice during the regular season.

“I like our spot,” Kane said. “We know how good they are and what kind of season they’ve had. But I know what we are capable of.”

Bassett, who wore the same shirt-and-tie combination that he has for the last two successful postseasons, relishes the opportunity to play the league’s best team Saturday.

“It’s been six weeks since we played them,” he said. “I think we’re better since then. And them? They’re undefeated. We’re looking forward to it.”

m.dimauro@theday.com