Go ahead, laugh.
Say these teams can't compete with CIAC schools. Say it's not worth watching.
You'd be wrong on both counts. But this blog is not about whether or not Hamden Hall and Hopkins can compete or win a lot of games in the SCC. This about the fan support to arguably the best rivalry in the area.
Yeah, I said it.
Look, there is no better history than Hillhouse vs. Wilbur Cross. But those games lose its luster in the Floyd Little Athletic Center. In a smaller arena, the games would carry much more intensity. Sure, the reason they went on to such a big facility is because smaller arenas cannot hold all of the interested parties, but facts are facts. And the games rarely live up to expectations.
Sure, Branford v. East Haven, West Haven v. Notre Dame-West Haven, and so on and so forth are all good rivalries. But in terms of fan support, I don't think Hamden Hall-Hopkins in basketball takes a back seat to anyone.
Go watch the videos today at http://www.nhregister.com/. And watch the shots of the crowd at the Beckerman Athletic Center. And listen.
Of course, it helps when a 2-5 Hopkins team, dead to rights down 17 points with 10 minutes left, rallies to take the lead with under a minute to play. It also helps when there is a game-winning shot, as Darryl Best made like Lorenzo Charles circa 1983 and put back an airball to set off pandemonium as you can see on the video.
It ends up being a crushing loss for Hopkins, which spent a lot of energy coming back to take the lead. It would have been even more crushing for Hamden Hall blowing such a lead.
Hopkins has got some talent with Laurent Firlotte and Lucas Hausman. You already know about Division I prospects Darren Payen and Victor Joshua, along with B.J. Davis and Best for Hamden Hall. All except Joshua played at CIAC schools previously.
Ask any of them what they think of the rivalry. They will tell you how good it is. Ask any of the people who were there Friday night — and some of them were familiar faces at games you and I both see at SCC games throughout the season. They will tell you the same thing — fabulous atmosphere.
The rematch is Jan. 31 at Hopkins. Admission is FREE. Trust me when I tell you it would be worth it to see just one Hamden Hall-Hopkins game.
Then you can say how wrong this post is.
Or maybe you might agree.

Xavier travels to Hillhouse Thursday night while the rest of the SCC plays on Friday.

It will give spectators and coaches to see how Xavier reacts to the full-court pressure the Academics will throw at them, especially on the bigger court - the game will be held at the Floyd Little Athletic Center at 7.

Xavier is coming off a 10-point loss to Wilbur Cross at home - all six of the Falcons' losses have been on their home floor. That is stunning.

Xavier will have to win the rebounding battle by a significant margin to have a shot at upsetting the second-ranked and undefeated Academics.

West Haven held off North Haven last night 89-86 in a wild SCC interdivision game.

Billy McDonald set the school-record for points. Someone scored 34 points for West Haven and it wasn't Tieron Jackson.

For more on this exciting contest, check out the CT Bulletin's coverage of it.

The SCC is in interdivision mode this evening with Wilbur Cross at Xavier and Branford at Hamden highlighting the schedule.
In the SWC, Kolbe Cathedral will try to beat Notre Dame-Fairfield for a second time - the first one was a non-league tilt on Dec. 19 - at Sacred Heart University. Game time is 7 p.m. Leave yourself plenty of time because parking is limited near the arena, leaving a long walk uphill.

Notre Dame-West Haven is still in search of its first win. For more on the Green Knights' struggles, click here

The latest hoop poll is out. And the spotlight is on West Haven captain Tieron Jackson this week.