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.

FOOTBALL: Masuk def. Middletown in Class L quarterfinals, 21-14

STRATFORD — For the first 24 minutes, it was all working.
Dario Highsmith and Isaiah Thompkins were moving the ball on the ground. The Middletown defense didn’t give an inch. And in its first playoff game since 2007, Middletown cruised into halftime with a 14-0 lead.
But it didn’t last.
Masuk turned to senior backs Tom Milone and Frank Bacarella in the second half, stuffed the backfield in a full-house running formation and scored 21 unanswered points in a comeback win in the Class L quarterfinals against Middletown Wednesday at Bunnell High School, 21-14.
“We self-destructed,” Middletown coach Sal Morello said. “Not to take anything away from Masuk — they took advantage.”
Masuk, Class L champion in 2010, advances to a Sunday semifinal with unbeaten Daniel Hand, which defeat Platt 55-26 in its quarterfinal Wednesday.
Trailing by two scores, Masuk quarterback Malik Cummings led a 52-yard drive with 6 minutes left in the third quarter that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Joseph DaMota.
Middletown went three and out on its next possession, then Masuk drove again (sparked by a 44-yard run from Milone) and found paydirt on a four-yard run by Bacarello.
Masuk missed the extra point, but pulled within one point as the third quarter ended at 14-13.
The teams buckled down for the first 8 minutes of the fourth quarter before Middletown penalties helped Masuk prolong a late drive.
First, an incidental facemask gave the Panthers five yards. Then, on fourth down and six in the red zone, the Blue Dragon defense had a false start. The penalty pushed Masuk to the two-yard line, where DaMota punched in his second rushing touchdown of the night.
Milone ran in the two-point conversion, and Masuk led 21-14 with three minutes left.
Middletown turned the ball over on downs as the clock wound below 2 minutes, and the Masuk offense kept the ball on the ground until the final buzzer sounded.
“We didn’t panic,” Masuk coach John Murphy said. “We thought we were in pretty good shape at halftime, even though we were down 14. We made some mistakes, but we knew if we cleaned up those little things we’d be in good shape.”
“We didn’t play a good second half,” Morello said. “We didn’t put them away. You’ve got to play all 48 minutes.”
-Joe Pelletier

FIELD HOCKEY: Haddam-Killingworth shuts out Stonington to win Class S state title

WETHERSFIELD — Patsy Kamercia has carried the torch as Haddam-Killingworth’s field hockey coach for 37 years.

Saturday, her Cougars carried her off the field as a state champion.

Freshman keeper Meghan Cerino made a dozen dazzling saves, teammate Taylor Burger stopped a pair of shots on the goal line and H-K won the Class S state title in a 2-0 shutout win against Stonington at Cottone Field.

When it was all said and done, the team lifted its longtime coach in the air with the championship plaque, celebrating the first outright state title for H-K since 1994.

“Yes, that’s a first,” Kamercia smiled after her feet returned to the turf field.

Read the full story here.