East Catholic Stays Atop Boys Hoop Poll; Manchester HS Gets Votes

MANCHESTER, CT — East Catholic High School maintained the peak position in the latest weekly boys basketball poll, while crosstown rival Manchester High School earned votes by winning its first five games.

East Catholic (4-0) garnered 11 of 18 first-place votes from media members to stay atop the poll. The Eagles crushed 2017 Class LL quarterfinalist Weaver 86-44 Saturday, but face a tough pair of games this week, hosting No. 6 Bassick Tuesday and traveling to CCC rival East Hartford Friday.

Manchester (5-0) has won each game by double digit margins, with a scoring differential average of more than 35 points per contest.

Here are the top 10, plus all other schools receiving votes, with first-place votes in parentheses and records through Jan. 1.

1. East Catholic (11), 4-0
2. Hillhouse (2), 4-0
3. Sacred Heart (4), 2-0
4. Notre Dame-Fairfield, 4-0
5. Holy Cross, 3-0
6. Bassick (1), 4-0
7. Hamden, 3-0
8. Danbury, 4-0
9. Waterford, 5-0
10. Notre Dame-West Haven, 4-1

Also receiving votes: Simsbury (4-0), Wilton (3-1), Kolbe Cathedral (4-1), East Hartford (3-1), Wilbur Cross (3-1), Pomperaug (5-0), East Lyme (4-0), Waterbury Career (3-0), Windsor (2-2), Career (2-0), Trinity Catholic (2-2), East Hampton (5-0), Stamford (3-1), Amity Regional (3-0), Manchester (5-0), Norwich Free Academy (3-0), Guilford (3-0), Ledyard (2-1), New London (3-1), Naugatuck (2-1), Immaculate (4-1), North Haven (4-0), Bunnell (2-2), Middletown (2-2).

Voters: Bill Bloxsom, HAN Network; Doug Bonjour, Connecticut Post; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Dave Grant, WATR-AM; Sean Krofssik, Record-Journal; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Joe Palladino, Republican-American; Dave Phillips, Shore Line Newspapers; John Pierson, WTNH; Marc Robbins, Vantage Sports; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Ben Talbott, Bird’s Eye Sports; Richard Zalusky, The Chronicle; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin, Joe Zone, WFSB.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen