CIAC playoff system proves many wrong, but Techs still need home

GROTON — As Thames River coach Craig Sylvester stood there after this season-ending loss, it was impossible not to feel sorry for him.

His co-operative team of two tech schools, Grasso and Norwich, along with St. Bernard went 10-0 in the regular season and outscored opponents, 48519. Starters would come out at halftime. A running clock is employed by CIAC jurisdiction when leads grow to 35. The record will show it was used often for Thames River in 2022.

The average winning margin was 48.5 to 1.9.

An interesting, painful juxtaposition.

For on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Class MM playoffs, Thames River was beaten by a nearly identical score of 50-0 by North Haven. The running clock started with more than three minutes left in the third quarter.

“To be 10-0, co-champions in our tech (CTC) league and have the first playoff game for these seniors, I told them I’m proud of them,” Sylvester said. “The scoreboard’s not what we wanted, but don’t take that as a defeat. Guess what? You put TRC on the map. You were the first group to get this program into the playoffs. Nobody can ever take that away from you. Keep your heads