Running it back

NDWH tops Hillhouse for second straight SCC crown

HAMDEN — The last time the SCC boys basketball championship final was at Quinnipiac University, Notre DameWest Haven battled Hillhouse for the title.

Six years later to the exact day, the SCC was back at M&T Bank Arena, the same two teams squaring off. Notre Dame had won both regularseason games convincingly this year against Hillhouse

But this was for high stakes and Hillhouse, even as a big underdog, knows how to play for high stakes. The game was in doubt deep into the fourth quarter before top-seeded Notre Dame put together a late run to win 74-61 and claim its second consecutive SCC championship before 1,561 fans.

“Even in the game we played earlier, they were close in both games,” Notre Dame coach Jason Shea said about Hillhouse. “Tonight, they hit a lot more shots, made it more challenging.”

With the win, Notre Dame (21-2) becomes the first SCC team to go undefeated in backto-back seasons, including the postseason tournament.

“Very rewarding. It makes me happy to know Mekhi (Conner) and Timaury (Gay) especially have established themselves in this league forever. Their legacy is undeniable,” Shea said.

To do so, Notre Dame had to beat three teams three times each in succession in this tournament: Hand, Prep and Hillhouse.

“I’m proud of my guys, they came out and gave a valiant effort. Notre Dame is a juggernaut,” Hillhouse coach Renard Sutton said.

This was Notre Dame’s fifth straight championship game. Gay played in all four during his career. Conner and fellow senior Matt Piechota played in the last three.

“We play a really tough schedule. We played some tough teams in the beginning of the season (two losses in December) and we had some learning experiences,” Conner said. “I think we got back to the team we were last year a little bit, just in different spots.”

Conner was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He finished with 21 points and six assists. Tajae Jones was terrific, posting a double-double (24 points, 15 rebounds).

“We worked all year for this, day in and day out,” Jones said. “It was a great game.”

The seventh-seeded

Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Notre Dame-West Haven players celebrate their 74-61 win over Hillhouse in the SCC Championship on Wednesday at Quinnipiac University’s M&T Bank Arena.