High School Basketball Championship Game Previews

UNCASVILLE, CT — Two groups of Bobcats and Crusaders will be converging on the Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend, as will some Hornets, Lancers, Whalers, Tigers, Rebels and Warriors, among others.

Sixteen high school basketball teams from every part of Connecticut will be competing for state championships Saturday and Sunday, as the CIAC presents the boys and girls finals for all four classes.

The first title matchup kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the final contest begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Hillhouse High School will be seeking its 24th boys hoop championship, while boys teams from Notre Dame-Fairfield, Brookfield and Westbrook are looking for their first.

Canton (girls S) and Hillhouse (boys LL) are attempting to repeat their championship efforts from 2016, while Sacred Heart (boys L) is searching for its fourth straight title after moving up from M to L.

Just two of the eight games feature the top two seeds competing for the championship.

Here is a brief look at the weekend matchups, in the order in which they will be played. Season records include regular season and state tournament games, but do not include league tournament games.

S girls - Saturday, 10 a.m.
No. 3 Canton vs. No. 5 Thomaston
Title game records: CAN 1-3, THO 3-4
Titles won: CAN 2016 (S); THO 2015 (S), 2014 (S), 1993 (S)
Records: CAN 21-3; THO 20-4
Rosters and Results

S boys - Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
No. 1 Westbrook vs. No. 6 Trinity Catholic
Title game records: WBK 0-0; TC 6-6
Titles won: WBK none; TC 2011 (M), 2004 (I), 2003 (M), 2001 (M), 1999 (L), 1996 (M)
Records: WBK 22-2; TC 19-5
Rosters and Results

M girls - Saturday, 3 p.m.
No. 4 New Fairfield vs. No. 11 Bacon Academy
Title game records: NF 2-2, BA 2-3
Titles won: NF 1992 (M), 1991 (M); BA 2012 (L), 2009 (M)
Records: NF 21-3; BA 19-5
Rosters and Results

LL girls - Saturday, 6:15 p.m.
No. 1 Trumbull vs. No. 3 New London
Title game records: TRU 1-1; NL 1-1
Titles won: TRU 1974 (L); NL 2014 (M)
Records: TRU 23-1; NL 22-2
Rosters and Results

LL boys - Saturday, 8:15 p.m.
No. 2 Hillhouse vs. No. 4 East Hartford
Title game records: HIL 23-10; EH 2-1
Titles won: HIL 2016 (LL), 2013 (LL), 2007 (LL), 2006 (I), 1990 (LL), 1986 (LL), 1984 (LL), 1978 (LL), 1970 (LL), 1969 (LL), 1965 (L), 1964 (L), 1963 (L), 1955 (L), 1952 (L), 1948 (L), 1947 (L), 1946 (L), 1945 (L), 1937 (L), 1932 (A), 1926 (A), 1924 (A); EH 1944 (M), 1939 (M)
Records: HIL 23-1; EH 22-2
Rosters and Results

M boys - Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
No. 8 Bloomfield vs. No. 11 Brookfield
Title game records: BLO 5-6; BRK 0-0
Titles won: BLO 2008 (S), 2002 (L), 1961 (S), 1946 (S), 1938 (S); BRK none
Records: BLO 19-5; BRK 18-6
Rosters and Results

L girls - Sunday, 3 p.m.
No. 1 Holy Cross vs. No. 2 Daniel Hand
Title game records: HC 1-3; DH 1-0
Titles won: HC 2007 (M); DH 1999 (L)
Records: HC 23-1; DH 21-3
Rosters and Results

L boys - Sunday, 5:30 p.m.
No. 1 Sacred Heart vs. No. 2 Notre Dame-Fairfield
Title game records: SH 8-2; NDF 0-3
Titles won: SH 2016 (M), 2015 (S), 2014 (S), 2009 (M), 1997 (M), 1984 (M), 1967 (L), 1949 (M); NDF none
Records: SH 24-0; NDF 22-2
Rosters and Results

Patch file photo