CT Championship Preview: Basketball, Boys Hockey, Boys Swimming
CONNECTICUT — State championship time has come for high school basketball, boys’ swimming and boys’ ice hockey teams across Connecticut as the CIAC tournament finals are held Saturday through Wednesday.
All 10 basketball playoffs are played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, the three boys hockey playoffs are held at Quinnipiac University, and the boys swimming State Open are held at the Yale University pool.
Here are some interesting facts about some of the teams involved in championship competitions.
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- There will be an increase in Panthers as four teams with that moniker will play for titles. Panthers will definitely prevail in junior high girls’ basketball, as both Pomperaug and EO Smith share the moniker. Other Panthers include Cromwell (boys basketball) and Masuk (boys ice hockey).
- Two different groups of Spartans will compete in the boys’ basketball finals: Waterbury Career Academy and Shepaug Valley.
- Northwest Catholic is the only school to feature in both girls and boys basketball finals.
- Greenwich leads the way in boys’ swimming with an incredible 36 State Open team championships.
- Only East Catholic (boys basketball, Div I), Notre Dame-West Haven (hockey, Div I) and the Newington Co-op (hockey, Div III) have a chance to repeat their 2022 titles. Bloomfield Boys Basketball also has a shot at a second consecutive championship; the Warhawks won Div. IV last year and are currently the top seeds in Div. III.
- The state’s only two undefeated basketball teams, Hamden and Fairfield Ludlowe Girls, are each competing in a title match for the first time. Waterbury Career Academy boys’ basketball is also playing for a championship for the first time.
- Four teams have made previous final appearances but never won a state crown. Pomperaug and EO Smith are both 0-2 in girls basketball title games but face each other in the Class L finals. Others include Shepaug Valley Boys basketball and Masuk ice hockey.
- Of teams with previous state championships, Staples Boys Basketball has been the longest-waited for another, winning its only title in 1937. Others with a 40+ year span include Ellington Boys Basketball (1972), East Hampton Girls Basketball (1980), and St. Bernard Boys Basketball (1982).
Tickets for CIAC Winter Championship events are only available digitally and can be ordered here.
Find complete information on every title fight, including championship game histories and links to team rosters and season records.
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BOYS BASKETBALL
All games at the Mohegan Sun Arena
Dept. I
March 18, 8:15 p.m
No. 1 East Catholic Eagles vs. No. 2 Northwest Catholic Lions
Regular Season: Euro 19-1; NWC 18-2
The way to the final:
- EM: bye 1st round; D. West Hill 87-47; D. Wilbur Cross 61-59; D. Ridgefield 74-45
- NWC: Bye 1st round; D. Bristol Central 79-40; D. Hill House 71-50; D. Notre Dame-West Haven 73-61
Title game record: EM 7-7; NWC 6-6
Last national championship: EM 2022; NWM 2003
rosters
Dept. II
March 19, 6:15 p.m
No. 1 St. Bernard Saints vs. No. 7 Staples Wreckers
Regular Season: SB 17-3; STA 15-5
The way to the final:
- SB: D. East Hartford 84-67; D. New Canaan 49-42; D. Windsor 76-71; D. Xavier 76-53
- Hours. Manchester 74-39; D.RHAM 69-62; D. Holy Cross 61-47; D. Fairfield Warde 57-55 (OT)
Record in title game: SB 2-1; STA 1-0
Last state championship: SB 1982; ST 1937
rosters
Dept. III
March 19, 3 p.m
No. 1 Bloomfield Warhawks vs. No. 2 Waterbury Career Academy Spartans
Regular Season: BLO 17-2; WCA 17-3
The way to the final:
- BLO: Goodbye in the 1st round; D. Masuk 84-58; D.Newton 74-61; D. New London 78-59
- WCA: Bye 1st Round; D.Darien 84-55; D. Fatal 64-63; D. Plate 84-71
Title game record: BLO 6-7; WCA 0-0
Last State Championship: BLO 2022; WCA none
rosters
Dept. IV
March 19, 10 a.m
No. 1 Cromwell Panthers vs. No. 3 Ellington Knights
Regular Season: CRO {18-2; El 17-3
The way to the final:
- CRO: Goodbye in the 1st round; D.Weston 58-42; D. Windham 72-58; D. Griswold 63-54
- ELL: Bye 1st round; D. Bacon Academy 59-55 (OT); D. Northwest Regional 76-69; D.Seymour 58-41
Title game record: CRO 9-7; ELL 2-2
Last State Championship: CRO 2018; EL 1972
rosters
Dept. of
March 18, 12:30 p.m
No. 1 Windsor Locks Raiders vs. No. 6 Shepaug Valley Spartans
Peak Season: WL 17-3; SV 14-6
The way to the final:
- WL: bye 1st round; D Gilbert 53-47; D. Age Saybrook 60-50; D.Portland 67-56
- SV: bye 1st round; D. Classic Magnet 59-50; D. Innovation 64-56; D. Lyman Memorial 50-45 (OT)
Title game record: WL 1-4; SV 0:1
Last state championship: WL 2001; SV no
rosters
GIRLS BASKETBALL
All games at the Mohegan Sun Arena
Class LL
March 18, 6:15 p.m
No. 1 Hamden Green Dragons vs. No. 2 Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons
Regular Season: HAM 20-0; FL 20-0
The way to the final:
- HAM: Bye for the 1st round; D. Danbury 65-38; D Enfield 46-34; D.Newton 57-44
- FL: bye 1st round; D. East Hartford 35-25; D. Conard 58-43; D. Neustadt 55-36
Title game record: HAM 0-0; FL 0-0
Last state championship: HAM none; FL no
rosters
Class L
March 19, 12:30 p.m
No. 1 Pomperaug Panthers vs. No. 3 EO Smith Panthers
Regular Season: POM 18-2; EOS 17-3
The way to the final:
- POM: Goodbye in the 1st round; D. Hügelhaus 49-46; D. North Haven 61-32; D. Windsor 54-45
- EOS: d. Farmington 56-32; D. Bristol East 58-38; D. St. Joseph 65-34; D. Holy Cross 66-60
Record in title game: POM 0-2; EOS 0-2
Last state championship: POM none; EOS no
rosters
Class MM
March 19, 8:15 p.m
No. 4 Mercy Tigers vs. No. 6 New London Whalers
Regular Season: MER 15-5; NL 14-6
The way to the final:
- MER: Bye 1st round; D. Osthafen 62-33; D.Foran 57-25; D. Daniel Hand 50-27
- NL: bye 1st round; D. West 60-35; D. Sheehan 47-41; D. Wolcott 62-36
Title game record: MER 3-4; NL 2-2
Last national championship: MER 2018; NL 2017
rosters
Class M
March 18, 10 a.m
No. 1 East Hampton Bellringers vs. No. 6 Valley Regional Warriors
Regular Season: EH 19-1; VR 17-3
The way to the final:
- EH: bye 1st round; D. Platt-Tech 68-18; D. Paul 39-34; D. Coginchaug 44-24
- VR: 1st round bye; D. Haddam-Killingworth 52-37; D.Granby 51-30; D. Cromwell 56-51
Title game record: EH 1-1; VR 3-1
Last national championship: EH 1980; VR 1999
rosters
Class S
March 18, 3 p.m
No. 10 Northwest Catholic Lions vs. No. 16 Kolbe Cathedral Cougars
Regular Season: NWC 12-8; Col 10-10
The way to the final:
- NWC: d. Wamogo 68-13; D. Bolton 51-48; D. Coventry 48-44; D. Windham Tech 64-35
- Kol: d. Windsor Locks 49-22; D.Housatonic Regional 68-26; D.Thomaston 67-34; D.Somers 65-56
Title game record: NWC 3-6; Col 7-4
Last National Championship:NWC 1999; KO 2010
rosters
BOYS HOCKEY
All games at Quinnipiac University
Dept. I
March 22, 7 p.m
No. 1 Notre Dame-West Haven Green Knights vs. No. 2 Fairfield Prep Jesuits
Regular Season: ND 16-3-1; FP 14-5
The way to the final:
- ND: 1st round bye; D Ridgefield 5-0; D. New Canaan 5-1
- FP: Bye 1st round; D.Notre-Dame-Fairfield 4-2; D Greenwich 5-0
Record in title game: ND 8-10; FP 18-4
Last State Championship: ND 2022; FP 2019
rosters
Dept. II
March 21, 7 p.m
No. 1 North Haven Nighthawks vs. No. 2 Woodstock Academy Centaurs
Regular Season: NH 18-2; WA 19-1
The way to the final:
- NH: d. Sheehan 8-0; D.Daniel Hands 5-2; D North Branford 1-0
- WA: d. Glastonbury 5-0; D.Westhill-Stamford 6-2; D Bradford 8-5
Title game record: NH 2-2; WA 1:0
Last State Championship: NH 2004; WA 2017
rosters
Dept. III
March 20, 7 p.m
No. 1 Masuk Panthers vs. No. 3 Newington Co-op Nor’easters
Regular Season: MAS 17-1-2; NEW 18-2
The way to the final:
- MAS: i.e. Southington Co-op 8-3; D. Hall 2-1; D. Konard 3-1
- NEW: D. Brookfield Co-op 3-2; D. Enfield Co-op 4-1; D. Rocky Hill Co-op 3-2
Title game record: MAS 0-1; NEW 3-2
Last state championship: MAS none; NEW 2022
rosters
SWIMMING BOYS
at Yale University
state open
March 18, 1 p.m
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