as we take a two-day break from high school sports, here is what we have to look forward to after the holiday break:

the Vanguard Classic is Saturday at Wilbur Cross. Highlighting the quadrupleheader is an undefeated boys' basketball matchup between Hillhouse and Sheehan. Game time is 2 p.m. That is preceded by Career-Hamden girls at noon. Then the gym will be cleared for the evening session which features Hyde-Bridgeport Central boys at 5 and Xavier-Wilbur Cross at 7. Admission is $7, $5 for students, for each session.

The New Haven Register's 77th annual all-state football team will be published Sunday. My thanks to football writer Mike Pucci, photographers Brad Horrigan and Mara Lavitt and master videographers Brett Orzechowski and Nick Scalia for their work. You can get a preview of the all-state team in the coming days by visiting our website at www.nhregister.com.

The weekly boys' basketball and hockey packages will debut on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Girls' basketball debuted last week.


I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season....