SUFFIELD, Conn. -- With 3:29 left in Sunday's NEPSAC Class A championship game, Preston Edmead turned to the Williston Northampton fans packed in the bleachers and waved his arms upward, urging them to stand up and get loud.
A cheerful and sustained ovation followed, serving as a prelude to what would transpire after the final horn sounded.
There was reason to celebrate a little early because Williston Northampton left no doubt that it was the top team in Class A, rolling to a 75-57 win over Phillips Exeter at Suffield Academy.
The victory gave Williston its first title since 2016 and capped a perfect 18-0 record against Class A competition.
MORE NEPSAC TITLES: AAA — Newman | AA — Worcester Academy | B — Brooks
"It was an incredible season that our team will remember for the rest of their lives," said Williston coach Ben Farmer. "Being on a team like this doesn't happen all the time. We tried to appreciate every moment we had together."
Williston dominated from the opening tip, scoring the game's first 14 points before stretching the lead to 23 in the second half. The team's athleticism, versatility and shot-making were displayed throughout the wire-to-wire triumph.
Edmead, a Hofstra commit, poured in a team-high 26 points on six 3-pointers, wowing the crowd with a series of step-back triples to earn MVP honors.
Tufts-bound wing Ricardo Nieves added four long balls and 15 points, while springy forward Ashton Reynolds starred defensively and snagged 10 rebounds. Six-foot-9 sophomore Kyle Seltzer chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds, highlighted by a posterized slam in the first half.
During each highlight play, the Williston fans who made the 19-mile trek to the final erupted loudly.
"It felt like a home game," said Edmead. "They were so supportive and it meant everything to us. It feels surreal."
Defending champion Phillips Exeter battled, trimming the deficit to 10 early in the second half. But a layup by Nieves, and back-to-back triples from Seltzer and Edmead pushed the lead to 55-39. Exeter never threatened again.
Luke Soden led Exeter with 16 points, and Notre Dame commit Ryder Frost capped his stellar career with 13 points and six rebounds in the final game for 26-year coach Jay Tilton.
However, the night belonged to Williston Northampton. whose only loss came to Class AA champion Worcester Academy. After the final horn, the fans stormed the court and met the players for hugs and chants. Congratulations and photos with the trophy followed.
"I determine a team's success by not just wins or losses, but did we get better?" said Farmer. "I think we reached our full potential as a team and that's what I'm most proud of."
