Division I
WHO: No. 2 Notre Dame-West Haven (25-1) vs. No. 8 East Catholic (19-6)
WHEN: Sunday, 8:15 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (subscription required)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Notre Dame: Bye; def. Danbury 83-53; def. Notre Dame-Fairfield 77-47; def. Windsor 60-57; East Catholic: Bye; def Farmington 57-46; def. Wilbur Cross 73-63; def. Fairfield Prep 47-40.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Notre Dame is 0-3, last appearing in 2003. East Catholic is 6-7, last playing, and winning, in 2019.
KEY PLAYERS: East Catholic: James Jones, 6-4, Jr., G; Luke Reilly, 6-2, Jr., G; Allyn Wright, 5-11, So., G; Notre Dame: Mekhi Conner, 6-0, Jr., G; Timaury Gay, 6-4, Jr., G; Andrew Lazarre, 6-1, Sr.
OUTLOOK: East Catholic is playing its best basketball of the season at the most opportune time. The Eagles have gotten solid play from Jones, Wright and Reilly among others on both ends of the floor. They will need to be even better on Sunday. They will need to control tempo, shoot it well from the 3-point line and rebound. Notre Dame had to come from behind in the final minutes to beat Windsor in the semifinals. The Green Knights are going to try and speed up the game with their full-court pressure, spearheaded by Conner and Lazarre. If they can get up by double digits, it’s going to be hard for East Catholic to come back from that.
MORELLI’S PICK: Notre Dame.
Division II
WHO: No. 1 Bristol Central (27-0) vs. No. 2 Northwest Catholic (25-2)
WHEN: Saturday, 8:15 p.m.
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (subscription…