CIAC Season Wrap-Up

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

The CIAC crowned four state champions this past weekend at Mohegan Sun.

Ironically, the team most consider to be number one overall in the state competed in the smallest division and so it was no surprise to see Sacred Heart run away with the Class S championship 71-46.

The win was their second consecutive over Valley Regional in the state championship game and punctuates a perfect 25-0 season.

Mustapha Heron was at his best, scoring 32 points on 12-21 shooting from the floor to go along with 8 assists. Senior forward Malik Petteway added 22 points and an incredible 18 rebounds, as Sacred Heart’s dynamic duo literally out-scored Valley single handedly.

Valley got 17 points and 6 rebounds from Chris Jean-Pierre but was limited by a suffocating Sacred Heart defense all day long, shooting just 26 percent from the floor including 4-21 in the first half.

Fairfield Prep took the biggest prize of the weekend, scoring the LL final on Saturday night in dramatic fashion. With 6 lead changes and 7 ties throughout the 32 minutes it was only appropriate that this one went down to the buzzer and it wasn’t until a Westhill corner 3 fell off the mark that Fairfield Prep finally captured their elusive state title.

Leo Redgate’s squad has been a pinnacle of consistency, advancing to the state final in four of the last five seasons, but this was the school’s first championship in that run after Bridgeport Central scored a huge comeback in last year’s championship game.

Sophomore big man Patrick Harding played a critical role, converting 13 points on 5-8 shooting and filling the gaps when Prep’s typically lethal perimeter wasn’t clicking. Those guards got it going eventually though as Thomas Nolan and Richard Kelly both had 12 and Ryan Foley made some huge plays down the stretch.

Jeremiah Livingston, one of the top players in the state all season long, was limited to 12 points on 1-7 shooting from the floor while C.J. Donaldson and Tyrell Alexander both had 14 for Westhill.

Weaver was another team that finally got over the hump this year, winning the Class M state championship after falling in the finals in the previous two seasons.

Notre Dame Fairfield packed in the lane all game long and forced Weaver’s quick guards to settle for jumpers and while their guards typically get the headlines it was actually their frontcourt that won them this one, doing incredible work on the offensive glass.

Andre Lyons had 23 points and 11 rebounds (8 of which came on the offensive end) while Chalyn Martin went hard to the glass as well with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jaecee Martin and KeAndre Fair, who typically pace the attack, had 13 and 12 respectively but shot a combined 7-27 from the floor.

Jordan Pettway, Jake Heaton and C.J. Davidson had 17, 15 and 14 for a Notre Dame squad that exceeded expectations this year, especially in the wake of the injury to Jesse McIntosh.

In Class L, Bunnell knocked off Naugatuck 72-61 to take the championship on Sunday afternoon.

Bunnell dominated the game in the open floor, outscoring Naugatuck 30-8, and survived a 29 points performance from Jarron Chapman to take the title. Ryan Pittman steadied the ship from the point, but was content to get others involved, finishing with 12 points on 5-10 shooting from the floor and 8 assists against just 2 turnovers. Aaron Samuel and Donte Peeler led Bunnell in scoring with 21 and 17 respectively.