Xavier hoping to build off great week

Will the real Xavier boys basketball team please stand up?

Is it the team that finished last in its own Christmas tournament for just the second time in 14 years? Or is it the team that knocked off a pair of Top 10 teams last week, including undefeated Hillhouse?

You know what coach Mike Kohs is hoping for.

“We have to play fundamentally sound basketball,” Kohs said. “We are not big and certainly not deep, but we have to play smart and we did an absolutely outstanding job of that.”

Kohs said he usually gives the players three keys prior to each game. For the two games last week, he gave just one.

“We had to hold our own on the backboards and we did an exceptional job in both games,” he said. Kohs said Xavier won the rebounding total against Notre Dame-West Haven last Tuesday, a 66-58 win at home, and was close to Hillhouse in the 58-55 win over the Academics in New Haven.

The two wins helped Xavier vault to the final spot in this week’s Register/GameTimeCT Top 10 poll.

Of course, it also helps to have a guard like Jackson Benigni around. The junior torched Notre Dame for 38 points and scored 29 against Hillhouse.

“Jackson gets to the line quite a bit,” Kohs said. “The kid works his butt off. He’s a tough competitor who attacks the basket well. He knows how to get to the free-throw line.”

This was the first time Xavier beat Hillhouse since Feb. 15 2008. The Academics had won 10 straight during regular-season games. The two teams did not play one another for four straight seasons (201216).

To put the win in further context, only three SCC teams in the last decade has beaten Hillhouse during the regular season: Fairfield Prep (seven times), Career (four) and Wilbur Cross (twice).

“We fought back to regain the lead late, then made some big foul shots,” Kohs said. “I’m ecstatic. There was utter joy to go into their gym and knock them off. It was great to have the week we had.”

Regarding the Artie Kohs Christmas tournament, Waterford is currently undefeated, Glastonbury is 4-1 and Ledyard is 3-2. Kohs said Waterford was the 10th team the school attempted to get to fill the final spot in the four-team tournament.

Xavier has SCC road games at Sheehan and Hamden this week.

“We have to play fundamentally sound basketball,” Kohs said. “We aren’t going to get anything easy. We are not going to overpower anybody.”

HoopHall Classic

Hillhouse and Sacred Heart may have not been able to work out a nonconference game this season — the sides did discuss before talks fell through — but at least they will get a chance to watch one another play this coming weekend.

And both teams come off losing for the first time on Saturday. Sacred Heart lost 77-58 to Long Island (NY) Lutheran.

Hillhouse and Sacred Heart return to play in the Spalding HoopHall Classic Saturday at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Academics play the fourth game of an eight-game slate at 1:30 p.m. against Imhotep Charter School (Pa.)

“We always relish the opportunity to play in a tournament of that caliber,” Hillhouse coach Renard Sutton said. “Hillhouse represents the state of Connecticut no matter who we face. Imhotep has a great track record.”

The undefeated Hearts will try to rebound off their first loss when they face unbeaten Gonzaga College High (Washington, D.C.) at 3 p.m.

“We have seen Gonzaga and they are long, athletic and very disciplined,” Sacred Heart coach Jon Carroll said. “Their best player (Terrence Williams) is headed to Penn State. It will be fun to be a part of.”

One state girls team, Enfield, faces Christ The King (N.Y.) Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15 for all eight games Saturday by calling 413-231-5513 during business hours through Friday or by visiting tickets.hoophall.com . Tickets are $20 at the door.

For the entire tournament schedule Thursday through next Monday, visit www.hoophall.com.