Courtside with GameTimeCT

Two days, 10 games, 10 state champions and two crowned GametimeCT No. 1 and we've reached the end of the 2024-25 CIAC basketball season and, with that the inaugural season of the revamped Courtside with GametimeCT high school basketball podcast. What a season and what a ride it's been.

Join hosts Joe Morelli and Scott Ericon as they break down the final, great weekend of boys and girls basketball championships at Mohegan Sun Arena. We've got it all: Recaps and analysis, not to mention a few extras and outtakes, from all 10 state finals (and one Unified team final), the final ranking in the GametimeCT Top 10 polls and everything else we could pack into the season finale. 

We covered hype surrounding Abdou Toure and repeat champion Notre Dame-West Haven, a pair of 27-0 small-school champions; an epic Division II final between Manchester and New London; Sacred Heart Academy's rally past Southington in LL; Northwest Catholic winning three-straight titles in different classes... and so much more. You won't want to miss it.

Thanks for hanging with us all season long as we start this new endeavor. We hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as we have.

So, for the last time 'til December: Join us,won't you?

0:00 — Introduction

2:45 — Final 2025 GametimeCT Boys Basketball Top 10 breakdown, analysis

9:04 — Final 2025 GametimeCT Girls Basketball Top 10 breakdown, analysis

13:18 — Was Unified Championship CIAC's second-best title game?

15:39 — How were the crowds at Mohegan Sun?

17:51 — Coventry's Class S girls championship

18:54 — Shepaug's 27-0, Division V boys championship

20:38 — Bacon Academy's Class M girls championship

22:43 — Ellington's 27-0, Division IV boys championship

25:54 — Sheehan's Class MM girls championship

29:12 — Bunnell repeats as Division III boys champions

32:04 — NWC's Class L girls title, three-peat in different classes

32:26 — Manchester's Division II boys championship (best of the weekend)

39:34 — Sacred Heart Academy's Class LL girls championship rally, No. 1 ranking

43:28 — Abdou Toure, Notre Dame-West Haven's repeat as D1 boys champs, GTCT No. 1

48:57 — Wrapping up the 2024-25 season

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We've arrived, at last, at that most wonderful time of the year: CIAC championship weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena. It's been a mad dash for both the boys and girls tournaments, but The 'Run to the Sun' ends here.

Join us as we look back at the state tournaments to date, including the brouhaha over Notre Dame Prep's 80-point win over Stamford in the Division I boys basketball first round, Sean Wilson's 30-point performances to lead Trumbull into the Division II semifinals, and, of course,, the end of some all-time great Connecticut careers: Gilbert's Emily Arel, Northwestern's Maddie Topa and Holy Cross' Elijah Parker.

Stick around for our comprehensive breakdowns and predictions of all 10 CIAC championship games this weekend, from the matinees to the marquee nightcaps. Will Ellington and Shepaug boys complete their unbeaten dream seasons? Will Bunnell boys repeat? Will Northwest Catholic girls three-peat in a third, different tournament class? Will Southington wins its first state title since 1993? Will Notre Dame-West Haven beat St. Bernard again to repeat in the Division I final? We cover all these storylines and so much more.

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It's state tournament time! The 2025 Run to the Sun begins now for our eager girls and boys basketball contestants and we've got you covered.

Reporter Scott Ericon and Joe Morelli break down all 10 brackets for the boys and girls tourmanents, highlighting some of the top players and toughest brackets, while picking a few dark horses and, finally, choosing their final four and state championship picks.

It's an episode you won't want to miss heading into the final two weeks of the 2025 season, culminating in state championship games at Mohegan Sun Arena. Make sure to like, subscribe and follow us throughout the postseason for all the latest news and views.

Join us, won't you?

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Welcome back to COURTSIDE with GametimeCT, your weekly Connecticut high school boys and girls basketball podcast hosted by reporters Joe Morelli and Scott Ericson.

The 2025 postseason has arrived and Joe and Scott are here to break down the league tournaments, which tip off this week across the state. Are these tournaments necessary any more? We list the pros and cons of playing them each year ahead of the state tournaments.

Joe and Scott also pick the winners of all 12 boys and girls tournaments. They also discuss the polls heading into the week, with two ranked boys teams losing.

Also, there was a number of huge performances, including two 50-point games and a buzzer beater. 

Join us, won't you?

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Welcome back COURTSIDE with GametimeCT, your weekly Connecticut high school boys and girls basketball podcast hosted by reporters Joe Morelli and Scott Ericson.

This week, Joe and Scott break down the epic matchup the Berkshire Leagues all-time leading scorers in Emily Arel and Maddie Topa. Topa reached the 2,000 point milestone in the game. 

They also discuss the No. 1 St. Bernard losing to New London, and a familiar powerhouse taking their spot atop the boys poll.

Joe also makes the case for why Manchester may be deserving of that spot. 

Also on the docket is a conversation about Division vs. Division in bosy basketball and how teams get ranked plus a breakdowns of how good are the teams at the top of the FCIAC girls standings.

All that plus both polls, games to watch this week, and more.

Join us, won't you?

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This week, on Courtside with GametimeCT -- your weekly look at boys and girls high school basketball in Connecticut, hosts Joe Morelli and Scott Ericson break down the Conard girls' impressive victory over No. 1-ranked Northwest Catholic behind 36 points from Emily Knowles.

It was also a big week of milestones, both those achieved and those close to it: Holy Cross' Elijah Parker becoming the 28th boys player to reach 2,000 career pointsming and Berlin girls coach Shelia King hit 300 wins while Windsor's Ken Smith is also nearing 700 career wins in boys basketball.

We also get into some of this week's upcoming key games, including Friday's battle between the Berkshire League's two all-time leading scorers in Northwestern's Maddie Topa, herself now close to 2,000 points, and Gilbert's Emily Arel, who achieved the feat earlier this season.

The guys also discuss the strength of the FCIAC and the CCC in boys basketball and Scott attempts to make a case for why the Windham girls, who have been impressive at 13-1, yet furious at being ignored, should be ranked in the GametimeCT Girls Basketball Top 10 Poll.

Join us, won't you?

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This week, is all about the aftermath of then-No. 2 St. Bernard's 66-65 victory over No. 1 Notre Dame Prep Sunday at the Pitt Center at Sacred Heart University. The victory vaulted the Saints into the No. 1 ranking in the GametimeCT Top 10 Boys Poll for this week. We look back at the game, won on a buzzer-beater by Tyler Mangual.

On the girls side, in addition to Northwest Catholic still leading the Top 10 poll, we look at Emily Arel of Gilbert surpassing 2,000 points for her career. We also discuss Bloomfield Cayden Smith's breaking the 1,000 point/assist barrier, and if the feat had ever been done before in Connecticut boys basketball history.

We also look ahead at some of this week's biggest matchups, including several involving the Ludlowe and Warde boys and girls basketball teams.

Join us, won't you?

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Welcome back for the second episode of COURTSIDE with GametimeCT, our weekly, boys and girls basketball podcast hosted by boys basketbball reporter Joe Morelli and girls basketball reporter Scott Ericson. Join us as they break down the latest in the Connecticut high school hoops scene.

Scott breaks down the No,1 Northwest Catholic vs. No. 2 Holy Cross girls game from Monday while Joe gives his take on No. 5 East Catholic beating No. 3 Manchester on the boys side.

Joe and Scott revisit the Hoophall Classic and talk about how the Connecticut teams did against some of the best teams in the country.

The girls are at the midway point in the season and the boys are just about there so things are getting serious as teams maneuver for conference and state tournament seeds.

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Welcome to the relaunch of Courtside with GametimeCT, our weekly boys and girls basketball podcast

Join longtime boys basketball reporter Joe Morelli and girls basketball reporter Scott Ericson as they break down the latest in the Connecticut high school hoops scene.

Joe and Scott will look back at the week that was, including all the great games, top performances and significant moments as they unveil the latest Gametimect Top 10 boys and girls basketball polls. They'll also give fans a glimpse of what's to come and what to look for in the week ahead.

In our inaugural relaunch episode, Joe and Scott discuss their early impressions of the seasons' first month, the first top 10 polls of 2025, and look ahead to a busy January.

Join us, won't you?

RUNDOWN

0:00 Welcome to Courtside with GametimeCT

3:02 Boys basketball Top 10 Poll

6:38 Manchester impresses early

7:49 Girls basketball Top 10 Poll

11:25 Are any boys leagues closing the gap on the CCC?

13:02 Toure continues to dominate for Notre Dame-WH

15:30 Southington's Lily Cooper reaches 1k points milestone

15:43 Ranked Hamden and Sheehan faced off

18:06 Coaching milestones

19:00 Games to watch

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