RUN TO THE SUN: Area hoop squads with eyes on a state final

The annual Run to the Sun is underway, and we've already got a couple squads dangerously close to the finish line. Mercy (Class LL) has already made its Mohegan reservation after a rousing semifinal win against Manchester, and Coginchaug and Portland Class S) will play in semifinal games Monday night.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Class S (draw)
No. 1 Coginchaug, No. 6 Portland, No. 27 Hale-Ray
Need to know: Coginchaug and Portland won Thursday night to earn spots in the final four, and so did fellow Shoreline squad Morgan. Coginchaug will play Morgan Monday night in Branford, and Portland will play Capital Prep in Plainville.

Class M (draw)
No. 5 Cromwell, No. 24 Haddam-Killingworth
Need to know: Cromwell's tourney run was snuffed out by top-seeded Weaver Friday night in the semifinals.

Class L (draw)
No. 19 Middletown
Need to know: Middletown bowed out against Masuk in L's first round.

Class LL (draw)
No. 10 Mercy
Need to know: Mercy landed a spot in the finals for the 3rd straight year after a win against Manchester in the semifinals.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Class S (draw)
No. 11 Haddam-Killingworth, No. 6 Coginchaug
Need to know: Coginchaug squeaked by H-K in the 2nd round, but ran into the Capital Prep buzzsaw in the quarterfinals.

Class M (draw)
No. 25 Vinal Tech, No. 5 Cromwell, No. 7 Valley Regional
Need to know: Vinal bowed out in the first round, Cromwell lost to Brookfield in the second round, but Valley is still kicking. The Warriors will play at Waterford Monday night.

Class L (draw)
No. 8 Middletown
Need to know: Middletown was upset in L's first round by Stratford.

Class LL (draw)
No. 28 Xavier
Need to know: No magic for the Falcons this year. Xavier lost to New London in the first round, 92-77.