Another Exciting Year Likely For High School Basketball In Manchester

MANCHESTER, CT — Anyone looking to catch some exciting basketball action this winter merely needs to pull into the parking lot at any of Manchester's three high schools, as a recent run of success looks to continue following an unprecedented occurrence.

For what is believed to be the first time in town history, the boys' teams at East Catholic, Cheney Tech and Manchester High School all earned votes in the pre-season poll of sports media members. East Catholic placed fifth, Cheney Tech was 17th and Manchester wound up 25th.

When the seniors on the teams' current rosters were freshmen in 2021-22, they combined for a regular season record of 40-19, a .678 winning percentage. The Eagles (14-5) won their second consecutive Division I title that March, the Red Hawks (14-6) advanced to the second round of the Division I tournament, and the Chargers (12-8) fell in the second round in Division IV.

The following year, the schools had a combined 44-16 regular season mark (.733), highlighted by East Catholic's third consecutive state crown. Cheney Tech was 14-6 and Manchester 11-9, but both bowed out of their respective tournaments fairly early.

In 2023-24, it was the Eagles' turn to slip in post-season play, falling to Notre Dame-Fairfield (now Notre Dame Prep) by a single point in the quarterfinals. Manchester also dropped its second-round matchup to Stamford in Division II, while the Chargers made it to the Mohegan Sun Arena for the Division IV championship game, which was taken by Innovation, 55-48.

East Catholic and Manchester had each posted 18-2 marks during the regular schedule, while Cheney Tech was 17-3 for a combined 53-7, and a record percentage for the town of .883. Even the seven losses were nothing to hang their heads about: Cheney bowed to Manchester, Division I runner-up St. Bernard and top 10 Kolbe Cathedral; Manchester lost to East Catholic and Conard; and the Eagles came up short against eventual Division II champion Windsor and perennial New York powerhouse Christ the King.

Offense was in high gear for the teams last year, with the Chargers the lowest-scoring team of the trio, yet still averaging just under 75 points per regular season contest.

And this year? East Catholic may have the most inexperienced roster it has sported in the past decade, with just one senior. Cheney Tech and Manchester, on the other hand, should have plenty of veteran guidance, carrying seven seniors apiece.

All in all, it promises to be another exciting three months of scholastic hoop in the Silk City.