CIAC high school boys basketball will have five divisions in the 2017-18 season, for a one-year trial period.
The CIAC states that under the new format the divisions use several factors, including recent success in the CIAC tournament and league championship play, the overall strength of the league, and their power point ranking over the past three seasons. The power point ranking is determined by the sum of wins of the opponents they defeated.
Schools can appeal what division they play in. If the appeal is successful, the school will be moved down one division. Schools can also opt to play in Division I, which has just 21 teams. In an interesting move, all 21 of those teams will make the state tournament.
In divisions II, III, IV and V, the usual .400 winning percentage is required for state tournament qualification.
Here are the local teams and which divisions they will play in, as of Sept. 21:
Bristol Central — II
Bristol Eastern — III
Crosby — I
Holy Cross — I
Kaynor Tech — IV
Kennedy — I
Sacred Heart — I
St. Paul — III
Waterbury Career Academy — II
Wilby — II
Wolcott — III
