History Made As Notre Dame-West Haven Boys Win First Hoops Title

UNCASVILLE, CT — A low-scoring defensive rock fight characterized Sunday's CIAC Class L boys basketball championship game, with Notre Dame-West Haven winning its first state title with a 52-46 victory over the St. Bernard Saints of Montville.

It was the 10th and final championship game at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, culminating in a veritable hoops festival in eastern Connecticut.

The game's most outstanding player was junior Green Knight Travis Upchurch, who had 15 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.

The matchup was a juxtaposition of the schools' recent history, with coach Mark Jones' St. Bernard the defending state champs, but finding themselves the underdogs against the top-seed and undefeated Green Knights, coached by Jason Shea.

ND-West Haven was 23-0 including CIAC tourney games while St. Bernard, playing mere minutes away from their Montville gym, was 20-3 in all games.

Nonetheless, ND-West Haven was looking to win its first state title in its fifth try while the Saints were looking for its fourth championship, the last coming a year ago in Division II.

The first quarter was a tight, physical affair with St. Bernard taking an 11-8 lead on a three-pointer at the horn by senior Colin O'Leary.

ND-West Haven counterpunched and took a 15-13 lead on junior Travis Upchurch's three-pointer with a bit more than four minutes left in the first half.

With play at a furious pace but baskets still at a premium, St. Bernard cut the deficit to one, but they found themselves trailing ND-West Haven 21-20 in a low-scoring affair.

St. Bernard jumped out in the third quarter and took a 22-21 lead seconds after starting second-half play, with the Green Knights taking the lead right back 23-22.

Both squads exchanged threes with about a minute and a half left in the third, then St. Bernard took the lead back 32-31 with a minute left in the quarter.

ND-West Haven pushed through a basket to retake the lead 33-32, which was the score as the fourth quarter started.

The Green Knights opened up some distance as the fourth quarter started as sophomore Landon Krygier cashed in an old-fashioned three-point play as he drove to the hoop and was fouled. It was 36-32, ND-West Haven.

With a bit more than three minutes left, senior Tim Swanson swished a three for ND-West Haven and put the Green Knights up 42-36.

With two minutes left, ND-West Haven was up 45-39 and looking to close out the Saints.

In the end, the Green Knights hit enough free throws and played just enough defense to do just that, prompting a joyful celebration that would be remembered for years to come at the school.

For the game statistics and wrapup, click on this link.