CIAC Playoff Outlook

Disclaimer: The author of this article is by NO means capable of doing the CIAC playoff math, nor breaking everything down. All statements made in this article are made based on gut feelings, following the state in the press, and games I've watched, listened to, or seen on the My TV9 replay.

LL-Current Top 6

1. Glastonbury 9-0
2. Hamden 8-1
3. Newtown 8-1
4. Cheshire 7-2
5. Southington 6-2
6. New Britain 7-2

Most teams have 2 games remaining, but Southington virtually has its destiny in its own hands. With three games remaining, they play the Hurricanes and Rams. Cheshire has Billy Raggone, and something to prove...he just may be the best player in the state. They play Fairfield Prep (weak) and Southington on Turkey Day. Both are away games, and that's dangerous. Parochial schools at home seem to get some divine intervention, while Southington could be a cornered animal at home. I don't really buy into the Tomahawk hype. Newtown and Hamden are quality teams this year, with the Dragons REALLY drinking that Kool-Aid Scott Benoit brought with him this year. Newtown has a dangerous game versus Masuk scheduled for Thanksgiving Eve, which will certainly play a factor in the LL and L standings.

L-Top 6

1. Masuk 8-1
2. Simsbury 7-2
3. Crosby 7-2
4. Newington 7-2
5. Windsor 7-2
6. Bunnell 7-2

Crosby should win out, with weak cross town rivalries against Wilby and Kennedy high schools. The Waterbury school picked up big points this week, knocking off #1 Ansonia...if only they were the S school and Ansonia were the L. Simsbury, Newington, Windsor, and Bunnell should ALSO win out, but chances are at least one will fall. Masuk has that danger game with Newtown on Turkey Day. Can we say grid lock? Did I mention that every team has between 80 and 98 tie-breaker points...Good luck with that, math majors.

MM-Top 6

1. New Canaan 9-0
2. Darien 9-0
3. Hillhouse 9-0
4. Weaver 6-3
5. Bristol Eastern 6-3
6. Platt 6-3

Not much to say here. New Canaan hosts Darien for Thanksgiving. However, Darien plays 5 win St. Joe's of Trumbull next week, and upsets happen. If things play out, I'd love to see Darien 1, Hillhouse 2, NC 3, and Platt 4. Why? I want to see S.P. Bowley of the CT Post forced to pick between Darien and New Canaan in a championship matchup. Plus, his Elite 8 is quite biased to sell papers in Fairfield County. Nothing wrong with playing to your constituents, but I just think as a reporter you need to be objective.

M-Top 6

1. Brookfield 7-1
2. Cheney Tech 8-0
3. Ledyard 7-2
4. Berlin 6-2
5. Avon 6-2
6. St. Paul/Lewis Mills/Goodwin Tech 7-2

St. Paul, et. al needs to win out, but is getting virtually NO help from RHAM (where the hell is RHAM?!) and Wilcox Tech. As for Cheney Tech, they're stealing a spot. An undefeated tech school is lucky to beat the best Junior Midget team in the state, but by beating up on the sisters of the poor, one of them inevitably ends up with a good record. HATE THAT! Teams 3-5 are decent, and I think they'd be alright to see. Berlin has to play a down NW Catholic team (only one Golic this year, but still 4th in Class S), so they might not hold on. Of note, Sheehan of Wallingford hosts Hillhouse this coming week, and then plays a 2 win Lyman Hall on Thanksgiving. They are currently 8th in class M. It's a SUPER LONG SHOT, as I've seen the Titans practice a few times (NOT PRETTY), and Hillhouse rips apart SCC D2 opponents...BUT if the Titans won out, what would their points end up at? I just want to know. I'm curious. They're not making it, but I'd just like to know how they'd finish up. Somebody check out the CIAC website for the numbers. And no, I did NOT go to Sheehan.

SS-Top 6

1. New London 8-0
2. Seymour 9-0
3. Rocky Hill 8-1
4. Montville 8-1
5. Wolcott 6-2 (no report on today's game)
6. Plainfield 6-2

The Whalers beat Montville last night on the final play of the game. Defending champion Seymour meets 8-1 Ansonia this coming Thursday, a week after the previously #1 Chargers lost for the first time in 36 games. That's a scary game for the Wildcats, and provides a clear indicator of their playoff positioning. Of note, a win gives Seymour a possible EXTRA game for the NVL title, but that's putting the cart before the horse. Rocky Hill's only loss is to NW Catholic (watch out Berlin!), and at least one of their games is against Nonnewaug, one of the five worst teams in the state. Wolcott can, and should, win out. Unfortunately, the Eagles won't make it. Tolland is currently ranked 9th, has 4 games unreported (including this afternoon's matchup with Canton) and should win out...just throwing that one out there, because they've been in state title games the past two years. They play current SS #7 Ellington-Somers on Thanksgiving...why am I mentioning this? Ellington has Hyde Leadership, and their 7 wins next week, and a good Tolland team. More math homework...can Tolland or Ellington make this? I HATE CIAC MATH! Without the math being done, I've got to think that IF Wolcott won't make it, neither will either of those teams...but you never know with the way the CIAC works. NOW, why didn't I mention Plainfield? I just don't know where the hell Plainfield is.

S-Top 6

1. Cromwell 9-0
2. North Branford 8-0
3. Ansonia 8-1
4. NW Catholic 6-2
5. Hyde Leadership 7-2
6. Griswold 6-3

Let's start at the bottom...Griswold has games remaining vs. New London and Plainfield. Both are bigger, and both amount to 13 wins, currently. That's a lot of points, if Griswold can pull of some sort of upset...not likely. NOW, North Branford plays both Hyde and Cromwell. They win at least one of those games, and they're in...I'm thinking. I see NW Catholic winning out versus a strong Berlin Redcoat team and Plainville, so they go. Hyde plays the T-Birds and Ellington, which means LOTS of crossover points if they can win, as well. Cromwell should be in, but winning out makes it a whole lot simpler. Hyde might be a tough game, but is certainly winnable, AND they finish the season against the WORST team in the state, Wolcott Tech.

NOW, the Ansonia Chargers...were #1, and knocked off by Crosby last night. They play a strong Seymour team this coming week, they're pissed off, and they're not used to losing. It's a home game, and when was the last time Ansonia lost 2 in a row in the regular season (Only the WATR guys know). THEN the Lavendar finish the season against a week Naugatuck Greyhound club. I'm not sure if a 9-2 Ansonia team has enough points to make it, but a 10-1 Charger team will be VERY dangerous after Thanksgiving.

I'm going out on a limb and saying this is the most interesting class in Connecticut.