You can certainly make that argument. Hillhouse with four SCC championship and a record 21 state championship losing to North Haven playing in its first final and having played in one state final in Class L in 1989.

North Haven did play with more heart and definitely wanted it more, as Hillhouse coach Kermit Carolina alluded to in his postgame comments. North Haven's Brian Salzillo got untracked offensively late in the game against a tough defender in Tavon Allen and Joe Setaro not only grabbed 11 rebounds, but he kept Hillhouse point guard Freddie Wilson out of the paint.

North Haven did everything it neded to do to win the game: control tempo, stay close in rebounding and limit its turnovers (10). The state voters have overlooked the team all season long but will be hard-pressed to do so in the poll that comes out before the state tournament.

But Hillhouse certainly lives and dies by the 3-point shot. That's the way the team has played all season long. And after shooting 6 of 35 from beyond the arc, including 1 of 12 in the fourth, the Academics certainly died by the shot.

Wilson tried to get into the lane in the fourth quarter, but you cannot fault him for finding open shooters. That is what a point guard is supposed to do. But you can fault him and the team for only going to the line three times. When you shoot from the perimeter as often as Hillhouse does, you don't get to the line.

And the fact that North Haven accomplished this with no substitutions is even more remarkable. A good run in Class L just might await the Indians.

And it makes you wonder how far Hillhouse can go in Class LL.