Co-Written By: Colby Sizer and Emma DeGeorge

What started as a promising winter for the Woodland boys basketball team has turned into a full-blown march toward greatness. Woodland is now in the hunt for glory. The Hawks didn’t just compete this year—they dominated, capturing the Naugatuck Valley League title and going undefeated throughout the season. After capturing a semifinal win, they have just punched their ticket to the state championship for the first time in school history. The past 25 years have been a drought for the program, but not with this season’s roster. They came out blazing with one goal: to be the best. 

“We have been pushing ourselves this whole season to strive for greatness; it’s been a long time,” said senior Allen Quayson. “I feel like we’re being rewarded for sticking together and being brothers. If we keep doing the same thing, we can be victorious for sure.” 

In the Division IV state semifinal, senior Markell Brown sealed the deal, ending the game with a fastbreak layup to take down number five Cromwell 62 to 56. For the Hawks, the win was just business as usual—the standard. The team started this record back in December and knew what was at stake, taking all their training and hard work, putting it into every single game. 

“In practice, we compete against each other; it really pushes us to be better by gametime,” said senior Markell Brown.

This year, the Hawks put their versatile players and deep bench to great use, keeping them ahead of the competition. Not to mention the addition to this year’s team of the Pringle brothers, who showed off in the semifinal. Junior Aiden Pringle once again delivered a standout performance, shooting an incredible 67% from the field on his way to 15 points and seven assists. It marked his fourth consecutive game with at least 15 points. 

“We have never really been able to play much together before. We have really good chemistry, and it feels good to play with people, and now my whole life,” said Aiden.

Right alongside him was his twin brother, Justin Pringle, who added 12 points on an efficient 5-for-9 shooting night. Whether it was attacking the rim or knocking down key shots, Justin made sure the pressure never eased. 

“I’ve never really been able to play with Ean before. I’ve always played with Aiden; now getting to play with both of them is even better,” said Justin. “Playing with my brothers and playing with my childhood friends has also been a really special experience.”

And then there was senior Ean Pringle, their older brother, anchoring the defensive effort. Highlighted by a timely block, his first of the season, that energized the team at a critical moment.

“We have good chemistry on the court, my brothers and I,” said Ean. “I feel like a lot of times I’ll pass the ball to them and I know exactly where they are.”

Senior captains James Scampolino and John Napiello have been the cornerstone of this team’s identity throughout the entire season. Since their freshman year, both players have been starters, allowing them to evolve not only as athletes but also into influential leaders. Their remarkable achievements are highlighted by the fact that they have both surpassed the impressive milestone of 1,000 career points. Scampolino has consistently demonstrated his ability to take charge on the court, as evidenced by his standout performance in the semifinal game, when he led the team with 16 points. Meanwhile, Napiello contributed with 12 points of his own, stepping up to control the tempo of the game. His strategic plays and composure during crucial moments were vital in ensuring the team’s victory as things tightened down the stretch. 

Together, they didn’t just lead; they delivered.

“We’ve never gone this far in the state tournament before,” said Scampolino. “We’ve done a great job all season; we just gotta finish as a team with one more game.”

Now, everything comes down to one final test. The Hawks are set to face No. 6 Windham Tech in the championship at Mohegan Sun this Saturday at 1 p.m., where all eyes are on the prize. It’s a chance to rewrite Woodland history. To turn a historic season into an unforgettable one.

Here comes the Sun.

“I want us to win it all,” said Napiello. “That’s the goal.”