BOYS BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS

I

Drew Williams, WCA: Scored 36 points, 21 in the second half, and also grabbed 18 rebounds to lead Waterbury Career Academy to its first state championship, 74-58 over Bloomfield in the Division III final.

Cedric Similien, St. Bernard:

Scored 30 points, including 17 in the first quarter, in a 76-53 win over Xavier in the Division II semifinals. Then the senior scored a game-high 21 points in the final, a 63-50 victory over Staples.

James Jones, East Catholic:

Scored 24 points in the Eagles’ 49-47 win over Northwest Catholic for East Catholic’s third consecutive Division I state championship.

Victor Payne, Cromwell:

Scored 36 points in the Panthers’ 7258 win over Windham in the Division IV quarterfinals. Scored 23 points, 19 in the second half, to lead Cromwell to the Division IV state championship, 53-46 over Ellington.

Sincere Monroe, Windsor Locks: Scored 22 points, including all five free throws he took in the fourth quarter to help Windsor Locks win the Division V state championship 69-58 over Shepaug Valley.

Tim Coleman, Hillhouse: Tip in at the buzzer lifted the Academics over Kolbe Cathedral 46-44 in the Division I opening round.

Chris Zajac, Staples: Had 17 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the Wreckers’ dramatic 57-55 overtime win against Fairfield Warde in the Division II semifinals.

Riley Fox, Conard: Scored 44 points to lead Conard to a 72-68 double-overtime victory at Farmington in the Division II opening round.

Malike Alassani, Windsor Locks: Scored 24 points in Windsor Locks’ 67-56 victory over Portland in the Division V semifinals.

London Jemison, Northwest Catholic: Scored 24 points in the Lions’ 73-61 win over Notre DameWest Haven in the Division I semifinals. Also had team-high 23 points in DI final against East Catholic.

Jaysean Williams, Bloomfield:

Scored 29 points in the Warhawks’ 84-58 victory over Masuk, then scored 35 points, including the 1,000th of his career, in quarterfinal win over Newington. Led Bloomfield with 22 points in DIII final lost to WCA.

Sonny Pierce, WCA and Johnny Kazantsis, Killingly:

Pierce made a go-ahead layup with 6 seconds left to give WCA the 64-63 win in the Division III quarterfinals. Kazantsis finished with a game-high 28 points.

Rickeem Sterling, Bullard-Havens:

Scored 26 points in a 78-75 win at Windham Tech in the Division IV opening round.