For those who still want the parochial teams to be in their own tournament, this may be the next best thing.

The CIAC has put into affect for the 2013-14 season a new formula to determine how schools that draw from more than one district. That includes magnet schools, parochial schools, those with project choice and now including vocational technical and vocational schools like Platt Tech and O'Brien Tech.

And it is based just on postseason success, not enrollment.

For example, Trinity Catholic, which draws from more than one town with a Class S enrollment,  has made the state finals, in two different divisions, two of the last three years, and the quarterfinals in another. Trinity maybe moves up to Class LL.
Another example: Career was a state finalist in M two seasons a go, a Class L champion last year and a Class L quarterfinalist this past season. So look for Career to be in Class LL.

On the other hand, if reigning Class S finalists Granby and Weaver return again next season to the final, both, by this change, would remain in Class S for the 2014-15 season.

Joe Palladino of the Waterbury Republican-American and Ned Griffen of the Day of New London wrote articles pertaining how programs in their respective areas would be affected.

My initial thoughts: I think it is best for all parochial and magnet schools to be in the two highest divisions, period. I have always felt that way. With the success Immaculate and Captial Prep have had in Class S in multiple sports, I truly believe they should be moved up. And if teams make at least the quarterfinals for three straight seasons, small schools could move up TWO DIVISIONS.

But what I don't like is teams moving down, parochial, magnet or otherwise. Once you have had a certain amount of postseason success on a semi-regular basis, you should move up and stay there.
We all know which programs are rich in tradition in its respective sports. To see programs request to move down, or just be move down based on being bounced early from the tournament, or having a bad couple of seasons, is that necessarily fair t those teams in the other division?

Credit to the CIAC basketball committee for trying to come up with a fair option. You will never satisfy everyone. Even if the parochials had their own tournament, there would be complaints. Let's see if this new format has some success.

Two referees, Steve Kirck and Pat Paulson (above), are completing their final seasons as IAABO Board 10 officials.

Here are 10 story lines to watch for the CIAC state tournament that begins in earnest today.

Plenty of big-time players in the tournament. Here are 5 to watch.

And plenty of bulletin-board material here: some predictions for the next two weeks.

Here is the latest Register Top 10 poll.

The CIAC and the Mohegan Sun Arena renewed for the Sun to host the boys and girls basketball tournament finals for just one year last off-season. This is the fourth year of having the finals in Uncasville - and it could be the last.
According to boys basketball tournament director Bob Cecchini, the Sun management asked to play the finals on Saturday and Sunday rather than Friday and Saturday. That is sure to be brought up again before any kind of contract is renewed.
"It was too short a time period (to approve for this season)," Cecchini said. "I don't know if the (CIAC) Board of Controls or our superintendents will support that decision (to play on a Sunday)."
Cecchini would not disclose specific plans but did say he had started looking at other sites just in case the CIAC does not return to the Mohegan Sun. Last year, when the winter snowstorms came one after another, the CIAC allowed schools needing to make up several regular-season contests to play on Sundays. And state finals have been moved to Sunday before when the tournament was held at Central Connecticut State due to inclement weather.
This is one to keep an eye on.

Here is the tournament schedule for next weekend:

Friday, March 16: 6 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 17: 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Two Class LL quarterfinal-round games Monday have been moved from home to neutral sites.


The first, No. 5 seed New London at No. 4 Windsor, Is now at Central Connecticut State University. That decision was made by the CIAC prior to the second-round games being played. The reason? CCSU is obviously a much bigger venue and fans would get shut out of Windsor, which holds less than 1,000 people.

According to Bob Cecchini, the CIAC tournament director, Windsor initiated the process because the school was concerned about an overflow crowd.

The CIAC decided on Friday to move the matchup of FCIAC teams, No. 9 Ridgefield at No. 1 St. Joseph, to Fairfield Warde High.

Granted, Warde is a bigger venue (920 capacity for St. Joseph, 1,661 for Warde) but this is a little more puzzling. If you want to move it, why not go to a college facility? I’m sure Sacred Heart University could be made available.

Naturally, St. Joseph coach Vito Montelli is up in arms about it. Not only did six seniors play their final home game Thursday against Cheshire, but now they lose their home-court advantage over someone they played already. The Cadets has every right to be upset. They had no say in the matter.

But although Ridgefield coach Carl Charles called Cecchini Thursday night to make the same plea about crowd concerns, Cecchini insisted that he already had thought about moving that game if need be before Thursday. The CIAC tournament packet states that Cecchini has the right to move quarterfinal-round home games if need be.

“I talked to a couple of people on the basketball committee and we decided to move the game,” Cecchini said. I’ve spoken with Vito and (St. Joseph athletic director) Jim Olayos. I talked to several parents. They are all upset with me but I felt we had to do it. I don’t want people to get locked out. Fairfield Warde has a great reputation (for hosting big games) so that was a natural. I know I’m the bad guy but for the best interest of high school basketball in the state of Connecticut I made the right decision.”

Look, I’m all for bigger venues so fans don’t get shut out. The CIAC executive hasn’t forgotten what happened at Sheehan back in 2005, when near-riots erupted outside Sheehan High because fans with paid tickets got shut out of the Crosby-Xavier Division I semifinal. That is why the Class LL and L semifinals are now held at CCSU and the Floyd Little Athletic Center, respectively.

That’s what makes the move to quarterfinal-round home sites two years ago very puzzling. It was done because there are not enough sites to go around. Cecchini said the committee will revisit this and maybe go back to neutral sites.

They should. If need be, spend the money for venues like Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, since new management there has expressed interest in getting back involved with high school athletics.

It’s easy for me to say because it is not my money. But it’s also not right to have to have some games at home, others at neutral sites. You have to be consistent. And in this case, the CIAC was not.

Tonight will be the Class M state finals rematch from a year ago, Career vs. Trinity Catholic, this time in the Class L quarterfinals at Wilbur Cross High at 6.

Trinity was able to dominate in the fourth quarter behind center Pascal Chidiebere Chukwu, guard Schradac Casimir and the rest of the Crusaders. Check out our story from last year's final at the Mohegan Sun.


Trinity has added transfer Jason Boswell from St. Patrick's. But the Crusaders have had some mysterious losses (Greenwich comes to mind) and were beaten by Bassick in the FCIAC tournament final.

Career has had just a pair of 1-point losses to Hillhouse. The Panthers avenged those losses in the SCC tournament final and then rallied from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to beat Elm City rival Wilbur Cross in the second round. If the Panthers fall that far behind against Trinity, they won't come back this time.

But last year should provide ample motivation for Treyvon Moore, Kenny Armstead and the rest of the team. The Panthers are a very good defensive team in full-court pressure and their active matchup zone.
When you move up in division, as both these teams did and should have, these are the great matchups you get at this point of the tournament. And it should go down to the wire.

Get to Cross early, folks.