Celebrating Lewis Mills boys magical state championship run in 1996

Thirteen members of the 1996 Class S state champion boys basketball team were introduced and honored at halftime of Lewis Mills’ game against Bristol Eastern on Friday. From left: coaches Steve Schibi, Mike Tracy and players Greg Kaczynski, Chad McDonald, Tom Lavinio, Chad Lavinio, Jarred Braddock, Brett Brunetti, Kyle Aaron, Ryan Colleoni, Rob Pickard, Jon Fucci and Steve Draczinski. (Photo courtesy Lewis Mills athletics)

By STEVE BARLOW
Special to the Collinsville Press
BURLINGTON, Feb. 6, 2026 – Lewis Mills High School celebrated the 30th anniversary of its 1996 Class S boys basketball state championship team with a ceremony at the Thunderdome at halftime of the Spartans’ game with Bristol Eastern last Friday.

In 1996, Mills defeated Portland, 52-49, before 3,000 fans at Central Connecticut in New Britain for its only state title in boys basketball thanks to one of the most dramatic shots in school history and CIAC annals.

Matt Kalin, the game’s Most Valuable Player, made a 32-foot shot at the buzzer to conclude a tense fourth quarter that saw the Spartans rally from a 45-40 deficit with four minutes left and Portland tie the game at 49-49 on two free throws with eight seconds to play.

On the final play, Kalin inbounded the ball to Chad Lavinio, who was nearly trapped by two defenders, but passed back to Kalin, who took a couple of dribbles before launching his off-balance shot from midcourt.

Kalin finished with 16 points for Mills (25-2) and Kevin Holmes scored 14 for coach Mike Tracy’s club.

The Berkshire League champion, Mills was the top seed in Class S and Portland, which drubbed No. 3 Gilbert in the semifinals, 91-52, was ranked second. After a first-round bye, Mills beat Haddam-Killingworth, 76-69; Somers (quarterfinals), 82-78, and Avon (semifinals), 54-48, to reach the championship game.

In the semifinal win over Avon, Kalin hit eight consecutive points including a pair of three-point shots to start off the fourth quarter to provide Mills with some cushion as the Spartans turned a two-point after three quarters into a 14-point lead. He finished with 14 points.

Lewis Mills has reached three state championship games in boys basketball, losing to Cromwell in the Class S final in 1969 and to Bunnell in the Division III final in 2024.

Lewis Mills 52, Portland 49
At New Britain
Portland (49) Brian Fields 5-0-1, Wyanti Leary 5-3-13, Dave Heizman 0-2-2, Chris Swanson 6-3-19, Pat Curry 2-0-4, William Rau 0-0-0. Totals 18-8
Lewis Mills (52) Tom Lavino 5-0-11, Chad Lavino 1-0-2, Kevin Holmes 7-0-14, Matt Kalin 5-2-16, Marc Abou-Arrage 1-0-3, John Fucci 0-0-0, Greg Kaczynski 2-2-6, Steve Draczynsky 0-0-0, Chad MacDonald 0-0-0. Totals 21-4-52
Portland (22-4)                  10  14  12  13  — 49
Lewis Mills (25-2)             16  12  9  15 – 52
Three-point goals: Swanson (P) 4, Field (P), Kalin (LM) 4, T Lavino (LM), Abou-Arrage (LM)