Ian Gardener of Kolbe Cathedral-Bridgeport scored a game-high 23 points and Raiquan Clark of Hillhouse had 18 points to lead the Connecticut All-Stars to a 118-92 victory over New Jersey in the JCC Schoolboy Basketball Classic April 13 in Woodbridge. CPTV Sports was there and will show replays in upcoming days (check broadcast schedule).
Crosby’s Tyshon Rogers, Bridgeport Central’s Tyler Ancrum and Bunnell’s Isaac Vann each had 16 points for the Connecticut team, comprised of many of the state’s top senior players.
The game was preceded by the all-Connecticut Schoolgirl Classic, in which the East All-Stars beat the West, 72-71. Read the story on the doubleheader by GameTimeCT’s Henry Chisholm here.
Orhan Cecunjamin made a reverse layup over 7-footer Paschal Chukwu with 21 seconds left as No. 2 seed Bridgeport Central rallied from a 18-point halftime deficit with a devastating full-court press to stun unbeaten No. 1 Fairfield Prep 76-73 to win the CIAC Class LL championship March 22. CPTV Sports covered the game LIVE as part of our CIAC Championship Weekend coverage from Mohegan Sun Arena and will show replays in coming days (check broadcast schedule).
It was the fifth state title for Central (27-1). Prep (27-1) had been the top-ranked team in the GameTimeCT.com state media Top 10 poll all season. But Central forced 15 second-half turnovers to swing the momentum. Marcus Blackwell had 17 points and nine rebounds for Central; Cecunjamin had 16 points, 17 rebounds. Read the game story from the Connecticut Post’s Doug Bonjour here.
Tyrell Arnum scored 26 points with 16 rebounds and Winston Morgan had 21 points to lead East Catholic-Manchester to an 87-60 win over Weaver for the CIAC Class M boys basketball title March 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
It was the Eagles’ first title since 1972 and the first for coach Luke Reilly, whose dad Joe won five at now-closed South Catholic High in Hartford. It was one of eight finals covered LIVE by CPTV Sports. It will be replayed several times in upcoming days (check broadcast schedule).
East, which trailed 22-16 after the first quarter, led 42-33 at halftime and put the game away with a 26-8 run to start the second half. Read the game story by The Hartford Courant’s Tom Yantz here.
Bridgeport Central dominated the first half and withstood a Ledyard rally for a 67-53 victory in the CIAC Class LL boys basketball semifinals March 19 in New Haven. CPTV Sports was there and will show the broadcast premiere Friday March 21 at 9:30pm. On March 22, Central meets Fairfield Prep for the Class LL title at Mohegan Sun Arena LIVE from Mohegan Sun Arena at 8:15. Unbeaten Prep has been the top-ranked team in the state all season; Central was No. 2 going into the tournament
Central (26-1), the FCIAC champions, jumped out to a 30-10 lead. Ledyard (21-5) cut it to 49-42 but Sha’Quan Bretoux (game-high 24 points) help Central re-establish control. Read the game story by the Connecicut Post’s Scott Ericson here.
For the third straight year, CPTV Sports proudly presented the CIAC boys and girls basketball championship games from Mohegan Sun Arena March 22 and 23, the first time we had eight games LIVE! It was a great weekend of basketball and we’ll replay all eight games Saturday March 29.
The final game of the weekend March 23 was dramatic all the way, with 15 lead changes. Windsor took the last one with 3:50 remaining and held on to beat Career-New Haven 63-59 in the boys Class L final. Guard Tyler Rowe had 25 points to lead Windsor, going 10-for-11 from the line. Saturday repeat: 9 p.m.
In Game 2 Sunday, favored Sacred Heart-Waterbury withstood Valley Regional’s first-half three-point barrage and rallied for a 65-56 victory in the boys Class S final. Malik Petteway had 17 points and 17 rounds to lead Sacred Heart, which was ranked No. 4 overall in the state going into the tournament. No. 8 seed Valley Regional got 20 points from Christopher Jean-Pierre. David Bradbury had 14 points, 12 in the first half on four threes. Saturday repeat: 5 p.m.
In Game 1, New London won its first state girls basketball title, holding off a late Morgan run for a 57-52 victory in the girls Class M final. Charee Osborne had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Whalers, who led by 14 at halftime before Morgan rallied to cut it to 53-52 with 2:06 to go. But the Whalers regrouped and held the Huskies scoreless the rest of the way. Saturday repeat: 9 p.m.
Saturday March 22 was an amazing day of basketball.
The nightcap was a memorable boys Class LL final. Bridgeport Central trailed by 18 halftime before unleashing a full-court press that forced 15 Fairfield Prep turnovers as the Hilltoppers stunned the No. 1 and previously unbeaten Jesuits 76-73. Saturday repeat: 11 p.m.
In the fourth game of the day, Lauralton Hall earned redemption for last year’s heartbreaking loss to Mercy at Mohegan Sun, defeating South Windsor 68-53 in the Class LL girls final for its first state championship. Saturday repeat: 3 p.m.
The third game Saturday was a classic. No. 3 seed Thomaston overcame a 10-point deficit to force OT, Abby Hurlbert made three straight free throws to send it a second OT, and the Bears defeated No. 1 seed St. Paul 61-57 in the Class S girls final.Saturday repeat: 11 a.m.
In the first boys game of the day, Tyrell Arnum scored 26 points and Winston Morgan 21 to lead East Catholic-Manchester to an 87-60 win over Weaver in the Class M boys final. It was the Eagles’ first title since 1972 and the first for coach Luke Reilly. Saturday repeat: 7 p.m.
In the first game Saturday, unbeaten No. 1 Capital Prep overcame a sluggish start and defeated Hartford rival Weaver 69-53 in the Class L girls final. It was the second straight title for the Trailblazers, who won Class S last year. Saturday repeat:1 p.m.
Announcers Bob Joyce, Marc Robbins, Bill Spaulding, Don Boyle, analyst Adam Finklestein and sideline host Glenn Conticello provided coverage and insight on the key storylines of the busy weekend.
CPTV Sports is available on Comcast cable channel 966 (256 in Danbury, Bethel, Ridgefield); Cox 805; Cablevision 139; Charter 223; Thames Valley 87 and MetroCast 418. The channel is also available digitally over the air at channels 24.3 (Hartford), 49.3 (Bridgeport), 53.3 (Norwich) and 65.3 (New Haven).
Donny Craig scored 31 points and No. 7 seed Waterford withstood a late rally by No. 2 Notre Dame-Fairfield to advance to the CIAC Class M semifinals with a 66-63 win March 17 in Fairfield. CPTV Sports was there, showed the premiere March 18 and will have replays several times in upcoming days.
Waterford (17-8) will meet No. 3 East Catholic March 19 for a berth in the Class L state final March 22 or 23 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Notre Dame (17-6) trailed by 11 with 3:49 to go and had a chance to tie at the end but Jaylen Jennings three-point attempt hit the back of the rim at the buzzer. Read game coverage from the Connecticut Post’s Reid Walmark here.
Josh Green scored 26 points, 23 in the second half as Cromwell High pulled away in the third quarter for a 75-56 win over East Hampton in the Shoreline Conference boys basketball tournament championship game March 7 in New Haven. CPTV Sports was there and will show replays in upcoming days (check broadcast schedule).
Cromwell improved to 21-2, East Hampton 18-4. Cromwell is the fourth seed and East Hampton sixth in the CIAC Class S tournament that begins March 10. Read the game story by the Middletown Press’ Jimmy Zanor here.
Bunnell-Stratford won its second consecutive SWC boys basketball tournament title March 6, holding a furious comeback by Kolbe Cathedral in a 68-64 win at Pomperaug High in a game seen LIVE on CPTV Sports. The game will be replayed several times in upcoming days (check broadcast schedule).
Tourney MVP Isaac Vann had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Bunnell, which went on a 31-8 run starting in the second quarter before Kolbe cut a 14-point deficit with a late charge. Read the game story by the Connecticut Post’s Doug Bonjour here.
Bunnell is 18-5, Kolbe 15-7. Bunnell is the ninth seed and Kolbe 18th in the Class L tournament that begins next week.
Tournament MVP Lex Perez scored 21 points to lead state No. 3 Crosby to a 73-64 victory over Waterbury rival Sacred Heart in the NVL boys basketball tournament championship game March 5. CPTV Sports was there and will show the broadcast premiere Friday March 7 at 7:00 pm.
It was the teams’ third meeting after splitting in the regular season. Tyshon Rogers scored 13 points for Crosby, which won its 10th NVL title in 11 years. Rogers passed Phil Lott to become Waterbury’s all-time leading scorer and is now nine points from the NVL record. No. 4 Sacred Heart got was without star sophomore Mustapha Heron (knee). Read the game story from the Waterbury Republican-American’s Kyle Brennan here.
For the third straight year, CPTV Sports is proud to present the CIAC boys and girls basketball tournament championship games March 22 and 23 from Mohegan Sun Arena. This year, we’ll have all eight games LIVE!
We’re pumped — and we’ve got a contest to get you pumped for the finals! We’re giving away four sets of two prime tickets, two sets for Saturday and two for Sunday!
It’s simple to enter. Just post a photo involving your CPTV Sports viewing experience at one of our three social media accounts — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram — or send it by mail (CPTV Sports Run To The Sun, Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc., 1049 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105).
You must include the words “Run To The Sun” with your entry, which must be posted by 9:00pm March 19. Individuals are allowed an unlimited amount of entries. Winners will be selected that night at random and notified through the social media account they used to submit their photo (or contact information provided with mailed entries). Click here for a complete list of contest rules.
