The Southern Connecticut Conference division races won't be determined Friday but in essence, some of them will be if certain results happen.

Start with the SCC Quinnipiac. Fairfield Prep takes its five-game winning streak to Middletown for a rematch with Xavier, which dealt Prep its last loss. Xavier is fighting for a state tournament berth after a slow start. If Xavier wins, it goes a game up over Prep with two left, but in essence, Xavier would have to lose both games to not be the recognized division champ and the higher seed in the league tournament even if the teams finish in a dead heat.

In the SCC Housatonic, Cheshire puts its unbeaten division record on the line at Sheehan. A win and Cheshire clinches a tie and would clinch it outright with a win Monday over Lyman Hall. So the Housy teams are rooting hard for Sheehan.

A win over Branford at home and Career would maintain a two-game lead in the SCC Oronoque with three road games left. That would leave it to North Haven, which trails by two in the loss column, to beat Career Monday. Career won by 24 last time out.

Then there's the Hammonasset where Hillhouse hasn't lost a game since 2005. That won't change.

Next week some SCC teams play as many as three games with a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. Then division races will start to become official

Career survived at Branford 56-55 Tuesday night. Now the Panthers host North Haven in SCC Oronoque Division play. Branford tries to rebound at Wilbur Cross Saturday night, also in division play.

In the SCC Quinnipiac, Xavier tries to make it two straight when its hosts Hamden while Notre Dame-West Haven tries to get its first win of the season at West Haven. Fairfield Prep, which has lost two of its last three, has an interdivision home game against Guilford.

In the SCC Housatonic, Amity comes off a 70-48 win over North Haven to host Sheehan while, Cheshire, three days removed from beating Sheehan 70-50, plays at Lyman Hall.

And in the SCC Hammonasset, Foran hosts Hand in what could be a battle for second place behind Hillhouse.

The holiday itself may be over but we have some Christmas tournaments this week that are worth checking out, none better than the Northeast Catholic Classic at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.


Three of last year's state champions - St. Joseph (Class LL), New London (Class L) and Trinity Catholic (Class M), along with New York powerhouse Archbishop Molloy, are in a round-robin tournament beginning Tuesday at 6. Trinity faces New London, followed by Archbishop Molloy vs. St. Joseph at 8. On Wednesday, Molloy faces Trinity Catholic at 6, followed by St. Joseph vs. New London.

Masuk hosts Shelton in its own Christmas Tournament at 7 Tuesday. That game is preceded by Norwalk vs. Bunnell at 5:15. The consolation and championship finals are at the same times in Monroe Thursday.

In the Branford Holiday Festival Tuesday, the hosts face Hewlett (N.Y.) at 6, followed by Hand vs. East Lyme at 7:45. On Thursday, Hand takes on Hewlett at 6, followed by Branford and East Lyme at 7:45.

In the Candy Cane Classic at Woodland Tuesday, the hosts face Ansonia at 7, preceded by Amity vs. Oxford at 5. The consolation and championship are Wednesday at the same times.

In the Kohs Holiday Classic, East Hartford faces Glastonbury at 5:30 p.m., followed by Valley Regional at Xavier at 7:15. The consolation and championship are at the same times on Wednesday.

A rematch looms in Fairfield Prep's tournament final on Friday between Prep and Notre Dame-Fairfield that was quite a game a year ago. That will be at Fairfield University at 8 p.m. if the favorites can prevail.

Then there is Thursday's Vanguard Classic at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. The schedule is as follows: West Haven vs.Hamden, 11:45 a.m.; Hyde vs. Kolbe Cathedral, 1:30 p.m.; Hillhouse vs. Harding, 3 p.m.; Hillhouse vs. Career (girls), 5 p.m.; Career vs. Stratford, 7 p.m.; and Wilbur Cross vs. Crosby, 8:45 p.m.

The 8th Annual Artie Kohs Basketball Classic at Xavier Dec. 27-28 will be offered as a memorial to former Register All-State selection Chanucey Hardy, 23, who died Oct. 9 in Romania after suffering injuries in a bar fight.
Hardy went on to play at Sacred Heart University. At the time of his death, Hardy was playing professionally for CSS Giurgiu in southern Romania.
On Dec. 27, Glastonbury will face East Hartford at 5:30 p.m., followed by Valley Regional at Xavier at 7:15. The consolation game (5:30) and the championship (7:15) are Dec. 28.