The first Vanguard Athletics Big City Holiday Classic will be held Saturday, Dec. 29 at the New Haven Atheltic Center. Pack a lunch and dinner - it will be worth it.
Spectators will get sto see four games for $8 in advance ($10 at the door) and $5/$7 for students. The highlight game is the rematch if last year's Class L final, reigning champion Weaver-Hartford vs. Maloney-Meriden, who did not lose a game until that final at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. That game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m., preceded by New Britain vs. Career at 1 p.m.
The last two games pits Bassick-Bridgeport vs. Hyde at 5, followed by Hillhouse vs. Springfield Central at 7.
Between how long it took to put this event together and with teams having other committments, Hillhouse does not get to face an in-state foe. Too bad, because I'm still waiting for that Trinity Catholic-Hillhouse rematch from 2005 or a Hillhouse-Windsor game. Or Harding-Hillhouse.
Maybe in the state tournament.

But Hillhouse and Windsor will get to square off on Sunday - in a scimmage. The Hoops For Food Super Scrimmage is Sunday beginning at noon at the athletic center. Trinity Catholic with Tevin Baskin, Crosby with B. J. Monteiro and New London with Florida-bound Allan Chaney are scheduled to be there.
Hillhouse opens against Danbury at approximately 12:40, then against Windsor at 1:20 and against Crosby at 2:40. West Haven, Career, Hyde and Shelton will also be there.

By the way, Hillhouse opens the regular season Dec. 13 against Weaver in the Doc Hurley Classic at the Hartford Civic Center. Tip time is 8 p.m., ending a quadruple-header. New London opens the slate against East Catholic.