Thoughts on what we have seen...and what we will see.

SCC Hammonasset: Even if Brian Patterson and Malcolm Willoughby, a pair of 6-6 forwards, are done for the year (the rumor is both are fifth-year seniors), this is still Hillhouse's division to lose. Hand hosts the Academics on Friday in realistically the only division game they may lose. Foran is a team on the rise under Tim Swaller.
SCC Housatonic: As predicted, Lyman Hall's division to lose. Amity is better than expected, but not good enough to knock off the Trojans. I still think we will hear from Sheehan, the winner of Morgan's XMas tournament, by February.
SCC Quinnipiac: Fairfield Prep came from behind to beat Notre Dame-Fairfield Thursday night to win its own XMas tournament. This is the team to beat. Notre Dame is still good enough to contend, despite what coach Gary Palladino said in another publication. Xavier will be in the mix while Hamden and West Haven will be trying to avoid the cellar.
SCC Oronoque: the best division race. Career is 6-0 coming off the LaVista tournament title, beating New Canaan and Greenwich. Cross has two losses to a pair of teams (Hillhouse and Northwest Catholic) ranked in the top five. These teams do not meet until Jan. 21 at Cross and neither may lose until then. Too close to call at this point.

Shoreline: Kudos to Coginchaug for beating Hyde in OT Thursday night at home, snapping Hyde's 30-game winning streak. Still the game of the year in the Shoreline is when Valley Regional comes to play Hyde at Fair Haven Middle School on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Edge still goes to Hyde in that tiny gym, but a small one.

SWC: Notre Dame showed me a lot in the loss to Prep. They can press, create turnovers and ignite the fast break. The Lancers will have trouble against teams with size - and Stratford still has size and a good cast of players despite its off-season losses. Those two teams do not play until Feb. 1. Not sure which what other teams will join be in contention.

NVL: Unbeatens Crosby and Holy Cross square off on Jan. 14 at Crosby. Until further notice, that's all you need to know here.

St. Joseph moved up to No. 2 in the Register Top 10 poll this week and will stay there if it wins the Northeast Catholic Classic tomorrow night against Bishop Eustase Prep (NJ).

Against Bishop Hendricken (RI) Tuesday night, the Cadets were never in real danger of losing to the reigning seven-time state champions of Rhode Island, but also could not put the team away despite gaining several leads in double digits.
The Cadets won in front of a crowd that included several college coaches, including Quinnipiac head man Tom Moore, Fairfield head man Ed Cooley and Dartmouth assistant Ricky Moore, the same Ricky Moore who was the point guard on UConn's first national championship team in 1999. Presumably, they were there to see 6-6 junior wing man Timajh Parker from St. Joes, but there was plenty of talent on both sides that may have been getting looks.

With center Oscar Assie and point guard James Jennings joining Parker, St. Joes is the favorite in the FCIAC. While it remains to be seen if this team is as good as Bridgeport Central was a year ago, St. Joseph will be very tough to beat this season. But the Cadets will need to have that killer instinct in putting teams away rather than letting teams hang around.

Vanguard Athletics will be hosting our 4th Annual Big City Holiday Classic high school basketball tournament at Wilbur Cross High School Tuesday. The schedule is as follows:

 1:00 p.m. (Boys) Hamden Hall vs. Weaver
3:00 (Girls) Career (Class LL 2010 Semi Finalist) vs. Hillhouse (Class L 2010 State Champs)
5:30 (Boys) Hyde Leadership (Class S 2010 State Champs) vs. Bulkeley (Class L 2009 Champs)
7:30 (Boys) Hamden vs. Wilbur Cross (Class L 2010 Semi-Finalist)

Please Note – There will be two sessions: The gymnasium will be cleared after the Career/Hillhouse girls’ game to accommodate fans for the remaining four teams (Hyde, Bulkeley, Hamden and Wilbur Cross).

Tickets for each session will be $7 for Students and $10 for Adults

 Individuals may purchase an “All Day Pass” at the door. This pass will allow the holder to remain in the gymnasium for both sessions. There will be a limited number of “All Day Passes” available.

All Day Passes will be $10 for Students and $15 for Adults

Due to Sunday's blizzard, some of Monday's boys' basketball games have been postponed already. Here is the list:
SCC interdivision
Cheshire at West Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Non-league
Oxford at O’Brien Tech, ppd. to Feb. 28, 6 p.m.; Career at New Canaan, 5 p.m.
Artie Kohs Classic
Glastonbury vs. Valley Regional, ppd. to Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.; Hand at Xavier, ppd. to Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.
Platt Tech Tournament
Trumbull vs. Foran, ppd. to Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.
Bullard-Havens at Platt Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Branford Tournament
Hewlett (N.Y.) vs. Lyman Hall, ppd. to Thursday, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Branford, ppd. to Thursday, 7:45 p.m.

The Register's All-Area girls' swim team is scheduled to run in Monday's editions. Please check back to see when field hockey and football will run!