On this date, four years ago, the Sacred Heart boys and Holy Cross girls basketball teams got their chance to shine at Mohegan Sun Arena in the state finals.
The Hearts played after the Crusader girls against Notre Dame-Fairfield in another matchup of Class L’s top two seeds. Sacred Heart ran away from the Fairfield school, 75-53, to capture its fourth straight state title. Both Legend Johnson and Courie Stevenson departed the Sacred Heart program as four-time state champions. Four players reached double figures in the game, led by 24 points from Isiah Gaiter. The Hearts finished with a perfect 28-0 record.
PHOTOS: Here are my images from the first half and the second half of the Sacred Heart game, along with the postgame celebration.
The Crusaders played first and took on Daniel Hand in a battle of Class L’s top two seeds. Holy Cross led by five points at halftime and had a 40-35 advantage late in the third quarter. Hand went on a 10-0 run that stretched into the fourth quarter, and that lead became a 45-40 deficit. The Crusaders closed to within three points, 47-44, with 3:37 left in the game, but they didn’t get any closer. Hand won the game, 50-45, and captured the Class L state championship. Despite the loss, Holy Cross had an incredible season and posted a 25-3 record.
PHOTOS: Here are my images from the first half and the second half of the Holy Cross game.
