EAST HAVEN – One hour before tipoff in the championship game of the East Haven Basketball Tournament, coaches Walt Pachniuk and Jack Shpunt wondered if their group of 10 boys – who had already played two games that day, not to mention two games the day before, and had been at the tournament site for more than eight hours – would have enough energy to carry them through the final challenge.

Other teams might not have been able to survive the loser’s bracket and play seven games to reach the tournament final, but this group of players had that special combination of heart, desire and ability to do just that.

Ryan McGrath scored 26 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead Newtown – which slammed a tenacious zone defense on previously undefeated Branford – to a 40-28 championship win on Sunday.

“What I’m most happy about,” said coach Shpunt, “is that every player made a contribution at certain times in the tournament which directly led to the success of the team. Our zone defense was outstanding – so good that the opposing coaches called numerous timeouts to adjust their offense. All the kids played smart and very well. It’s a great group.”

Orchestrating the offense for Newtown was point guard Joey DeVellis, who slashed his way through the Branford defense and tossed in nine points. DeVellis was clutch in the fourth quarter, too, sinking 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Joey Bowen chipped in four points and Tucker Kass added one on a free throw.

Coming up strong on the boards for Newtown were Michael Tibbetts, Michael Kennedy, Bowen and Kass. Leading the defensive efforts, executing numerous steals, were Michael Klein, Cody Shpunt, Aron Fay, DeVellis and Kass.

Newtown reached the championship game with a 36-32 win over Wallingford in the semi-finals. McGrath scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while DeVellis added seven points. Klein, Fay, Kennedy, and Bowen chipped in four points apiece.

Kass, Klein and DeVellis led the defense while Bowen, Kennedy and Kass once again came up strong off the boards.

On its round to the finals, Newtown also managed to defeat Guilford (33-25), Hamden Fathers (54-32) and East Haven (50-38).

In the win over Guilford, McGrath scored 13 points while DeVellis and Kennedy added five apiece. Fay and Bowen tossed in four points each to complete the offensive attack. Klein dished out four assists.

In the win over Hamden Fathers, Newtown used a full-court press to explode for 22 fourth-quarter points and the victory. McGrath (13), DeVellis (12) and Kennedy (11) all scored in double figures while Fay and Shpunt chipped in with six points apiece. Bowen and Shpunt added four assists each while McGrath, Fay, and Kennedy were strong under the boards.

In the win over East Haven, McGrath scored 17 points while Kass and Fay chipped in with six points apiece. Kennedy, DeVellis, Klein and Bowen all combined for 19 points while Fay, Kennedy, Bowen and McGrath were once against solid off the glass.

Tad Pierson, Jack Quinn and Kevin Regan are also members of the team, but did not participate in the tournament.