Norwich — The Norwich Free Academy boys’ basketball team has delivered far more punishment to its opponents this season during its unbeaten tour through both the Eastern Connecticut Conference and state.

The Wildcats showed Tuesday night that they can take a wicked punch, too.

Top-ranked NFA fought from underneath third-seeded Ledyard through three quarters of the ECC Division I tournament final in a pressure-cooker environment before 3,092 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Wildcats finally took control in the fourth quarter. Tournament MVP Mason Jackson scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in that quarter as NFA won, 54-43, to claim its first ECC tournament title since 2014.

“We really needed this one going into states,” said Jackson (12 rebounds). “I think we’ve got (defending CIAC Division I champion) East Catholic in our bracket, and we think we can complete with them. This was good for us to get ready.

“During the season, we had a lot of blowouts, so I’m just glad that we’re finally getting more close games.”

Senior Nolan Molkenthin and junior Jared Martin both scored 14 for NFA (23-0) and made the All-Tournament team. No one else scored for their team.

The Colonels led 35-32 after three quarters. Wildcats senior Xavier Marquez said it was the first game in which they trailed at halftime (26-22).

“Being under the big lights, everybody is wondering how they’re going to play against adversity and how we’re going to come back and jump back,” Marquez. “We never hold our heads (down), no matter what’s going on. We’re going to stick together and know we can pull it out.”

The Wildcats are ranked fourth in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register Top 10 media poll. They and Prince Tech are the only two unbeaten basketball teams left in the state, boys or girls.

Junior Jabari Jones (12 points, 11 rebounds) and sophomore Dorrel Cagle (10 points) made the All-Tournament team for the Colonels (14-9). Senior Jaiden Bickham added 10 points.

“At the beginning of the year, I told these guys, ‘there’s a lot of talent in this locker room — you just have to put it together,’” Ledyard head coach Dave Cornish said. “We can become a better team as the season goes on.

“I was really pleased (tonight), and I told them I think we’re starting to play better and be that team that I thought we could be at the beginning of the year.”

The Colonels' size and full-court press gave NFA troubles in the first half. They went on a 9-2 in the second quarter to go ahead, 24-16, with 4 minutes, 12 seconds left.

Jones had nine points and nine rebounds and junior Daryl McGraw had three blocks in that half for Ledyard.

“We didn’t really know what to do with it (the Colonels’ press),” Jackson said. “The first game (Jan. 9), they didn’t really pressure us. They just laid back in a 2-3, so that’s how we were able to blow them out (65-36). This game, they threw some pressure at us. They were hungry. They really wanted it.”

Marquez said of Ledyard, “They’re not the longest guys, but they can definitely get to spots quickly. We were running plays and they kept beating us to the spot. I grew up playing with those guys. We always get that intense defense.”

NFA got more active on the boards in the second half and turned up its own defensive pressure.

“We wanted to trap them and force turnovers,” Jackson said. “Don’t let them get to Jabari Jones. (We) didn’t let them get in the middle. We did that. When they missed shots, we had to get rebounds.”

The Wildcats trailed 35-32 to start the fourth quarter. Two free throws by Martin cut their deficit to a point 59 seconds into the period.

Jackson’s putback with 6:13 remaining put NFA ahead to stay, 36-35. Moments later, Marquez came up with a steal on one end and threw it the length of the court to Martin for an easy layup and a 38-35 Wildcats lead less than five minutes left.

Jackson kept NFA’s run going with two free throws and a layup to give it a 42-35 lead with 3:46 left in the game.

Ledyard didn’t get its first points of the quarter until Omar Whitmore’s layup with 3:37 remaining.

“I thought we just got tired, and when you get tired, you make mistakes,” Cornish said.

“I’m glad to get (the title) for the seniors, for the city,” Jackson said. “I’m happy right now.”

n.griffen@theday.com