High School

Quarterfinals Set For 2026 CIAC Boys Basketball State Tournaments

Divisions II, IV Quarterfinals tip off on Thursday, March 12, Divisions !, III, V Tip Off Friday, March 13
Robert Gullo|
Newington sophomore Silas Jefferson hit a buzzer-beater three in Newington’s 66-64 win against Hillhouse in the second-round of the CIAC Division II State Tournament on Monday, March 9, 2026.
Newington sophomore Silas Jefferson hit a buzzer-beater three in Newington’s 66-64 win against Hillhouse in the second-round of the CIAC Division II State Tournament on Monday, March 9, 2026. | Dan Heary

With the Division I CIAC Boys Basketball State Tournament tipping off and concluding its “second-round” yesterday, the quarterfinal matchups for all five divisions across the state are set. 

Divisions II and IV will begin their respective quarterfinal tournaments tomorrow on Thursday, March 12, as the three other divisions (I, III, and V) will tip off their quarterfinal tournaments a day later on Friday, March 13. All five of the top seeds are still alive in each tournament.

Here are the quarterfinal matchups and predictions for each game:

Division I Matchups (Friday, March 13)

-No. 1 Staples vs. No. 8 New London (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 2 West Haven vs. No. 7 Ridgefield (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 3 East Catholic vs. No. 6 Notre Dame-West Haven (6:00 p.m.- @ New Britain High School)

-No. 4 Northwest Catholic vs. No. 5 Notre Dame-Prep (6:00 p.m.)

Predictions: Staples defeats New London, West Haven defeats Ridgefield, Notre Dame-West Haven defeats East Catholic, Northwest Catholic defeats Notre Dame-Prep 

Division II Matchups (Thursday, March 12)

-No. 1 Windsor vs. No. 9 Fairfield Ludlowe (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 2 Trumbull vs. No. 7 Bunnell (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 3 East Hartford vs. No. 6 Newington (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 12 New Canaan vs. No. 13 Maloney (6:00 p.m.)

Predictions: Windsor defeats Fairfield Ludlowe, Trumbull defeats Bunnell, East Hartford defeats Newington, Maloney defeats New Canaan

Division III Matchups (Friday, March 13)

-No. 1 Ellington vs. No. 24 Amity (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 2 North Haven vs. No. 10 Bethel (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 3 SMSA vs. No. 6 Wilby (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 4 Stratford vs. No. 5 Grasso Tech (6:00 p.m.)

Predictions: Ellington defeats Amity, Bethel defeats North Haven, Wilby defeats SMSA, Stratford defeats Grasso Tech 

Division IV Matchups (Thursday, March 12)

-No. 1 Woodland v. No. 9 Griswold (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 3 Nonnewaug vs. No. 6 Windham Tech (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 4 Granby Memorial vs. No. 5 Cromwell (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 7 Abbott Tech vs. No. 18 Joel Barlow (6:00 p.m.)

Predictions: Woodland defeats Griswold, Windham Tech defeats Nonneaug, Granby Memorial defeats Cromwell, Abbott Tech defeats Joel Barlow

Division V Matchups (Thursday, March 12)

-No. 1 Stafford vs. No. 8 East Granby (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 2 Haddam-Killingworth vs. No. 10 Terryville (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 3 Hartford Public vs. No. 22 Thomaston (6:00 p.m.)

-No. 4 Somers vs. No. 5 Coventry (6:00 p.m.)

Predictions: Stafford defeats East Granby, Haddam-Killingworth defeats Terryville, Hartford Public defeats Thomaston, Somers defeats Coventry

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Robert Gullo
ROBERT GULLO

Robert Gullo developed an interest in covering sports as a child, developing a true love for football. He studied sports journalism at Central Connecticut State University, earning a bachelor's degree and beginning is journalism career at the Record Journal, in his hometown. He has been freelance sportswriter for may sites, including Sportskeeda NFL and College Sports Network, as well as numerous local newspapers. In 2023, Gullo became a sports reporter for the New Britain Herald where he also taken on editorial duties. He covers local high school sports as well as college sports at CCSU. In addition, Gullo freelances for the New England Football Journal each fall.

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