The Race to the Sun is over, but the work is far from done.
Over the next approximately 36 hours, 20 teams will battle it out for 10 CIAC championships, five each in men’s and women’s basketball during what has become Connecticut’s most exciting and entertaining weekend in sports. of high school.
It’s become our little slice of madness in this third month of the year. Every season we don’t think it can get better, but it never disappoints.
So join us as our team at GameTimeCT brings you the most interesting scenarios and memorable moments throughout the weekend.
M-class girls
No. 1 East Hampton (25-1) vs. No. 3 Valley Regional (21-4), 10 a.m.
The valley takes the lead
Valley Regional took a 19-16 lead with 4:33 left in the third quarter after Olivia Cunningham returned on a missed free throw by Regan Grow, who was fouled after making a layup .
It’s Valley’s first lead since 3-1 at 6:31 of the first quarter.
East Hampton lead at half-time
Valley Regional are close to Shoreline Conference rivals East Hampton in the first half, trailing 16-15 thanks to a 3-pointer from Lily Grow with 37 seconds left in the half.
The teams combined to make 6 of 16 three-point attempts, but only three 2-point fields between them.
East Hampton won the first meeting of the regular season 74-50, but Valley was able to control the pace as they are today in the second meeting, losing 44-39 on Feb. 3.
East Hampton with an early lead
East Hampton have an early lead over Valley Regional, 13-10, early in the second quarter. Both teams are adapting to the bigger pitch and depth perception, with neither shooting better than 25% so far.
Lead guard Abby Bradbury keeps Valley close with eight points. Five players scored for East Hampton, led by Liana Salamone’s four.
where to watch
ACIC championship games are broadcast live on the NFHS network. The CIAC championship games are in one place.
It’s a good reminder to watch out for fake accounts trying to get credit card information.
In November, an account called “CIAC FOOTBALL UPDATE” is on Instagram with links to buy tickets in advance. The accounts appear authentic in part because of the GoFan logo on them – which also happens to be CIAC’s ticket provider.
“It’s the only way to be sure you’re going through the right channels,” CIAC spokesman John Holt told GameTimeCT in November. “This is the safest way, or any link provided on the official CIAC Twitter feed (@ciacsports).”
Break down the M class
The Class M Semifinals were a carbon copy of the Shoreline Conference Semifinals, but this time Valley Regional avenged their seminal SLC loss to Cromwell to try their luck against defending SLC champion East Hampton. in the state finals. … The last time two Shoreline Conference teams met in a state championship game was the 2011 Class S Finals between Portland and Cromwell. … Both teams lost in the Class M semi-finals last year, Valley to eventual champion Holy Cross and East Hampton to Bacon Academy.
East Hampton have won 20 straight games since losing to Cromwell on Jan. 3, including winning the Shoreline Championship from the Panthers. … Valley has lost four games this season: to Cromwell in the Shoreline semi-finals; twice at East Hampton in the regular season and at Class S runner-up Catholic Northwest. … The Bellringers are powered by second-year guard Liana Salamone, who can score from anywhere on the field. Valley’s leading scorers are senior Abby Bradbury and junior Olivia Cunningham, both in double digits scoring nearly every game. Valley is the only team to score 50 points against East Hampton this season, although that ended in a 74-50 loss in January.
Division V Boys
No. 1 Windsor Locks (21-4) vs. No. 6 Shepaug (17-7), 12:30 p.m.
S-class girls
Kolbe Cathedral No. 16 (14-10) vs. North West Catholic No. 10 (16-8), 3 p.m.
Division I Boys
Eastern Catholic No. 1 (26-1) vs. Northwestern Catholic No. 2 (21-3), 8:15 p.m.
LL class girls
No. 2 Fairfield Ludlowe (26-0) vs. No. 1 Hamden (26-0), 6:15 p.m.
Sunday schedule
SECTION IV BOYS
No. 1 Cromwell (24-2) vs. No. 3 Ellington (22-4). 10am
L-CLASS GIRLS
No. 3 EO Smith (23-4) vs. No. 1 Pomperaug (22-3), 12:30 p.m.
DIVISION III BOYS
No. 1 Bloomfield (23-3) vs. No. 2 WCA (23-3), 3 p.m.
SECTION II BOYS
No. 1 St. Bernard (24-3) vs. No. 7 Staples (21-6), 6:15 p.m.
GIRLS CLASS MM
No. 6 New London (20-6) vs. No. 4 Mercy (20-6) 8:15 p.m.
