CIAC Basketball Finals At Mohegan Sun:
March 29 Replay Marathon
March 19, 2014
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).