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Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame-Fairfield are both positioned to make deep runs in their CIAC state tournaments after getting off to great starts Monday evening.
The third-seeded Notre Dame-Fairfield Lancers used their speed to frustrate No. 30 Plainville in the first round of the Class M state tournament, dominating the Blue Devils, 74-53. Plainville's two leading scorers, Brett Litke and Chase Tarca, fouled out in the fourth quarter, opening the floor up for Notre Dame.
Junior center Arkel Miles had a huge night on the boards, racking up a double-double for the Lancers with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Dan Upchurch led Notre Dame in scoring with 20 points, while Earl Coleman added 15 points.
Notre Dame-Fairfield is guaranteed home-court advantage through the quarterfinals. It hosts No. 14 Kaynor Tech in the second round Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Fairfield Prep had to hold off a furious comeback against East Hartford in the first round of the Class LL tournament. The ninth-seeded Jesuits blew an early 18-point lead but recovered for a 52-44 victory.
Prep led 30-12 at the half behind a huge start from Terry Tarpey. The Hornets stormed back by focusing on Tarpey and outscored Prep, 21-6, in the third. East Hartford came all the way back to tie the game at 44, but that was as close as it got.
Matt Daley picked up where Tarpey left off, as each scored 19 points. East Hartford's Cane Broome lit up the scoreboard with a game-high 30 points, but Prep was able to hang on.
Fairfield Prep has arguably the toughest road to the finals in Class LL, traveling to eighth-ranked Crosby on Wednesday at 7 p.m. If the Jesuits can beat Crosby, top-ranked Windsor looms in a potential quarterfinal showdown.
How far do you think Prep and Notre Dame will go in their tournaments? Start the discussion below!
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