Mohegan — A sophomore transfer, Jayden Burns, played the entire 32 minutes Saturday afternoon for the New London High School girls' basketball team. A freshman and the other half of the Whalers' backcourt tandem, Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick, was on the floor for 31 in the Class LL state championship game.

Pretty good for the new kids, who pretty soon will be the old kids in New London's starting lineup.

"Joniyah being a freshman and coming from rec ball, that's so different," New London senior Tai Pagan was saying through her tears following heartbreak for the No. 2 Whalers in the form of a 55-53 loss to No. 1 Norwalk at Mohegan Sun Arena.

"She started off (the season) a little crazy, but we calmed her down. And a transfer (from Norwich Free Academy, Burns). She came in knowing something completely different. ... We now know how to get the ball. They played so well it's incredible. I'm blessed to see their growth."

Bland-Fitzpatrick scored 10 points in the first quarter against Norwalk and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Burns had 11 points, including two 3-point field goals.

Bland-Fitzpatrick hit the game-winning free throws for the Whalers in a Class LL semifinal game win over Wilbur Cross earlier in the week and dedicated it to the senior class — Pagan, Spencer Roman, Xaryia Melendez and Da'Jah Uzzle — which has helped provide guidance for the younger players.

The first game of Bland-Fitzpatrick's New London career consisted of a colorful 27-point extravaganza in a 58-50 victory at Capital Prep. She never left the starting lineup after that, but struggled at times, sometimes offensively, sometimes defensively, trying constantly live up to her sizzling first impression.

"It's not always about scoring," Bland-Fitzpatrick said earlier this week of what she has learned. "You have to have defense. As long as we play defense ..."

Burns, who never played point guard before, had adjustments to make, as well.

"I had to learn a lot," Burns said Saturday. "... I learned — I'm trying to think of how to say this — I enjoyed a lot of friendship (this season). I'm so grateful to Spencer. She's an amazing role model; she always knows what to say at the right moment.

"It's so amazing (playing in the backcourt with Bland-Fitzpatrick). We both know how it feels (now). We've gained that trust in each other."

Assistant coach Arianna Dolock stopped to talk to Burns outside the locker room Saturday, telling the young guard she was happy to have had her on the team. Head coach Holly Misto said the starting guards "exceeded expectations" over the course of the season.

"They're going to be tremendous players," Misto said. "They've grown up a lot this season. I was so glad we had them this year. I told them in the locker room, 'You need to carry on now. I'm hoping you understand what it takes to get here.'"

"It kind of gives us motivation," Burns said of the loss, which wrapped up New London's season with a 25-3 record and a fourth state championship appearance in six seasons. "We want to keep the legacy. Of course it's going to be tough without our seniors. Someone's got to step up and lead everyone else. I'm excited for the upcoming years."

v.fulkerson@theday.com