Fairytale finish: Best pics from Valley Regional's championship win

Check out the best snaps from Valley Regional's win against Weston in the Class M state championship game Friday night at Mohegan Sun. If you missed the recap, click here.

Perfect Panthers: The best pics from Cromwell's championship win

Check out the best snaps from Friday night at Mohegan Sun. If you missed the recap, click here.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Valley Regional vs. Weston, Class M final

The final two teams standing on the Class M boys' side are Valley Regional  and Weston. The Warriors won a Class S title two years ago, and Weston was an M champion in 2007. Let's break down this year's teams:

Valley Regional

Nickname: Warriors
Record: 25-2
Notable wins: Ledyard (57-51)
Top players: Jonathan Luster, Sr., G, 5-10; Chris Connor, Sr., F, 6-5
Notable stats: Points per game in 25 wins: 71.6
State titles: 1 (in 1 final appearance: 2011)
You should know: Shoreline Conference champion, undefeated in conference play; two losses came against Class LL schools (Xavier, Glastonbury) in Kohs Classic at Xavier

Weston

Nickname: Trojans
Record: 14-11
Notable wins: University (54-53), Kaynor Tech (62-54), Enfield (53-47)
Top players: Charlie DiPasquale, Sr., G, 6-2; Asher Lee-Tyson, Jr., G, 5-10
Notable stats: Outscored by opponents 1,481-1,478 this season
State titles: 1, 2007 (in 3 final appearances: 1984, 1986, 2007)
You should know: 12-6 record since losing five straight from Dec. 27 to Jan. 11

TALE OF THE TAPE: Cromwell vs. Notre Dame-Fairfield, Class M final

This year's Class M state championship game features undefeated Cromwell and upstart Notre Dame-Fairfield. Who has the edge? Let's break it down:

Cromwell

Nickname: Panthers
Record: 27-0
Notable wins: Bacon Academy (53-50), Weaver (60-44)
Top players: Janelle Harrison, Jr., F, 5-10; Kelly Flanigan, Sr., F/G, 5-8; Alexa Riley, Sr., G, 5-6
Notable stats: Average margin of victory is 26.7 points 
State titles: 0 (in 3 final appearances: 1989, 1990, 2011)
You should know: Shoreline Conference champion; hasn't lost since March 9, 2012

Notre Dame-Fairfield

Nickname: Lancers

Record: 23-4
Notable wins: Pomperaug (58-45)
Top players: Amber James, Sr., G, 5-5; Jovan Kingwood, Sr., G, 5-7 
Notable stats: Average points allowed in 23 wins is 36.9
State titles: 0 (in 4 final appearances: 1987, 1988, 1989, 2007)
You should know: Lost to Lauralton Hall (Class LL finalist) 74-28 in South West Conference tournament final

All-time series: Middletown High vs. Xavier football on Thanksgiving Day

Xavier leads all-time series, 12-3

1998 - Middletown 26, Xavier 12
1999 - Middletown 19, Xavier 13
2000 - Xavier 35, Middletown 20
2001 - Xavier 35, Middletown 7
2002 - Xavier 6, Middletown 0
2003 - Xavier 47, Middletown 20
2004 - Xavier 41, Middletown 6
2005 - Xavier 44, Middletown 19
2006 - Xavier 14, Middletown 6
2007 - Middletown 12, Xavier 0
2008 - Xavier 36, Middletown 14
2009 - Xavier 34, Middletown 0
2010 - Xavier 27, Middletown 14
2011 - Xavier 48, Middletown 6
2012 - Xavier 41, Middletown 14

Middletown High and Xavier's athletic directors announced Wednesday the schools would not continue the city series next year.

PICS: Xavier vs. New Canaan hockey

Perfect Panthers? So far, so good

The starting five that strikes fear into the
hearts of Shoreline girls basketball teams: Emily
Appleby, Janelle Harrison, Kelly Flanigan,
Alexa Riley and Lindsay Langenauer.

Cromwell girls basketball is on fire. Thirteen games, thirteen wins — the signature victory coming against defending Class L champion Bacon Academy. 

The Panthers have a few tricky tests left (H-K, Morgan), but an undefeated regular season is a pretty good possibility. Here's hoping I didn't just jinx it.

We’re trying to keep them level-headed,” Cromwell coach Kelly Maher said. “Not to look forward too much. The players will tell you that, too — we worry about the game in front of us.”

Full story here.