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Zuliani led balanced Bridgeport in points (13), rebounds (10) and blocked shots (two) and his tenacity set the tone early as the Indians pounded out a 38-19 halftime advantage.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI always try to play physical,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Zuliani said, òòò½ÊÓƵœand out-physical the opponent.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

The win handed top-seeded Bridgeport (26-1) its third title in boys basketball (following yet another football crown last fall) and allowed the Indians to close the season with 23 straight victories. They also avenged their lone loss, a 52-44 setback at Nitro on Dec. 21.

Nitro (19-7), the No. 3 seed, was appearing in the final for the first time in program history.

Balanced scoring again ruled the day for the Indians, as Jack Spatafore added 12 points, Landon Sanders tallied 10 and tournament MVP Phoenix Sickles produced nine to go with seven rebounds. The Indians also went 7 of 15 on 3-pointers. But defense was definitely the backbone for Bridgeport.

Nitro shot just 37.2% from the floor and became the 24th opponent the Indians held under 50 points in a game. In five postseason games, Bridgeport allowed only 31 ppg.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s the reason we put such a heavy emphasis on defense,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Indians coach Dave Marshall said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s how we approach everything. Defense carries come tournament time. It was far from our best offensive game the last two games, but defense carries us.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

Nitro didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t beat itself throughout most of the game. Even trailing by 17 points at halftime, the Wildcats had committed just two turnovers and were 6 of 6 at the foul line.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe got some decent looks the first quarter,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Nitro coach Austin Lowe said, òòò½ÊÓƵœbut were 1 of 10 (on 3-pointers) at halftime. òòò½ÊÓƵ¦ We didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t get clean looks. They do a good job pushing you out. And when youòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got that guy inside, it makes a difference.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

Zuliani, who is bound for West Virginia University to play football, put the hammer down after Nitro had shaved a 22-point deficit to 16 on a pull-up jumper by Ty Stephens with 6:39 remaining.

In a span of 1 minute, 44 seconds, Zuliani threw down a baseline dunk off a feed from Gavin Williams, made a free throw after collaring another rebound and found Spatafore for a 3 to bump Bridgeportòòò½ÊÓƵ™s lead back to 57-35.

Lowe was impressed by Bridgeportòòò½ÊÓƵ™s òòò½ÊÓƵœphysicalityòòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ in general, and Zuliani in particular.

òòò½ÊÓƵœHats off to Bridgeport,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Lowe said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThey came out and took it to us today. They were ready. My guys, we battled, but at the end of the day, they got up inside us and were a little more physical than we expected.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

The Indians outrebounded Nitro by a whopping 39-15 count, with Bridgeport grabbing more offensive rebounds (16) than the Wildcats had overall. Zuliani, again, led the way with six offensive boards for Bridgeport.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThe officiating was different than the first couple games,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Lowe said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThey let us get after it. But if you told me theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™d outrebound us by 24, Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™d have said youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re crazy. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a recipe for disaster. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re usually pretty good in the paint.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

Lowe also said that Zuliani changed a lot of Nitroòòò½ÊÓƵ™s shootersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ minds when they got in the painted area of the foul lane.

òòò½ÊÓƵœOne hundred percent,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Lowe said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t think heòòò½ÊÓƵ™d give us problems he gave us, but he did. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a monster òòò½ÊÓƵ¦ we didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have an answer for it. They really took it to us in the paint. (A deficit) of 12 points in the paint òòò½ÊÓƵ” usually thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s our (modus operandi). They took it away from us.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

About the only issue for Zuliani on Saturday was a cut on his chin in the second quarter that drew blood, causing him to change his jersey from No. 21 to No. 10 for the second half.

Zuliani and other Indians starters departed with 1:53 left and Bridgeport ahead 58-37, receiving hugs from their coaching staff.

òòò½ÊÓƵœIt all came down to the buy-in,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Marshall said, òòò½ÊÓƵœin that weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had from this group of seniors especially. When I say buy-in, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not just them òòò½ÊÓƵ” itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been their parents, their grandparents òòò½ÊÓƵ¦ and it shows itself on the court.

òòò½ÊÓƵœTheyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve done everything weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve asked and then some òòò½ÊÓƵ¦ they understand that this was a business trip and what we were down here for.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

Nitro was led by 16 points from òòò½ÊÓƵhton Crouch and 11 from Stephens. The Wildcats lose three senior starters.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThese seniors won a lot of basketball games the last three, four years,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Lowe said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThey laid the foundation and set expectations for coming back here next year. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll keep laying the foundation brick by brick to try and get back next year.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

Stephens, a junior, said the Wildcats can take satisfaction from putting Nitro on the map with its first-ever run to the state title game.

òòò½ÊÓƵœJust motivated for next year,òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™ Stephens said, òòò½ÊÓƵœto come back stronger and keep working.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ™

NITRO 6 13 10 11 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 40: Stephens 5-11 0-0 11, Poniatowski 1-1 0-0 2, Lowe 1-12 0-0 2, T.Lovejoy 0-1 0-0 0, A.Crouch 6-10 4-5 16, Littlejohn 0-0 0-0 0, Cole 0-1 0-0 0, Thomas 0-0 2-2 2, A.Lovejoy 0-1 0-0 0, Brooks 1-1 0-0 3, C.Crouch 2-5 0-0 4, totals 16-43 6-7 40

BRIDGEPORT 17 21 10 14 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 62: Sanders 3-8 1-2 10, Sickles 2-6 5-6 9, Spatafore 4-9 2-2 12, Zuliani 4-10 5-7 13, A.McDougal 1-2 0-0 2, D.Williams 3-4 0-2 6, Dodd 0-0 0-0 0, G.Williams 3-4 0-0 7, J.McDougal 0-1 0-0 0, Romano 0-0 0-0 0, Holcomb 0-0 0-0 0, Church 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 1-1 0-0 3, Kidd 0-0 0-0 0, totals 21-45 13-19 62

3-point goals òòò½ÊÓƵ” Nitro 2-17 (Stephens 1-6, Lowe 0-8, Cole 0-1, A.Lovejoy 0-1, Brooks 1-1), Bridgeport 7-15 (Sanders 3-8, Sickles 0-1, Spatafore 2-2, G.Williams 1-2, J.McDougal 0-1, Brown 1-1)

Rebounds òòò½ÊÓƵ” Nitro 15 (A.Crouch 3, C.Crouch 3), Bridgeport 39 (Zuliani 10, Sickles 7, A.McDougal 7)

All-Tournament team òòò½ÊÓƵ” Bridgeport: Landon Sanders, Carter Zuliani, Anderson McDougal; Nitro: Collin Crouch, Ty Stephens; Fairmont Senior: Trea Cumberledge; Shady Spring: Jalon Bailey

MVP òòò½ÊÓƵ” Phoenix Sickles, Bridgeport; School Spirit Award: Shady Spring