The basketball schedules are up on the CIAC website and one game immediately stands out:
Reigning Class LL champion Hillhouse vs. reigning Class L champion Weaver. The top two teams in last year's final Register poll play on Dec. 13 in the Doc Hurley Classic at the Hartford Civic Center. Tip time is at 8 p.m.
It should be interesting to see how those two teams will be after a glorious 2006-07 campaign. Hillhouse has lost just one game the past two seasons. Weaver coach Lou Lapenna joked after the game about possibly being No. 1. Now we get a chance to see these two teams play. The last time the Beavers and Academics met was during the 2005 Division I tournament second round, won convincingly by Hillhouse.
That game ends a fabulous quadruple-header. New London and East Catholic tip off the day at 3 p.m. This is an annual matchup in the Doc Hurley, with the two-time Class LL finalists (East Catholic going up against New London's star Allan Chaney, who has orally committed to the University of Florida, the two-time national champions.
New Britain plays Bulkeley at 4:45 p.m., followed by EO Smith and Windsor at 6:30. It's very likely Hillhouse won't tip off until after 8, but if you can call in sick or get the day off, these four games are worth seeing. How often do you get to see four games on one day and never have to leave your seat?