We stand at the midway point of the boys' basketball season. Here is what we have in store the next couple of weeks:
-- Sheehan could take control on the SCC Housatonic if it beats Lyman Hall for the second time. Cheshire awaits the first week of February with a pair of games (Feb. 2 and 4) against Sheehan.
--Hillhouse is the best team in the league so far, but has a couple of land mines on the road to an undefeated regular season - at Hand Feb. 3 and at Sheehan Feb. 18. The Academics should be able to hold serve at home otherwise.
--It's Xavier's division to lose in the SCC Quinnipiac. The Falcons have the division's top player in Will Tye. But can they play enough defense to win it? The game Feb. 9 at Notre Dame could be a crucial one.
--Wilbur Cross has struggled in Anthony Hill's first season, but the Governors could still win the SCC Oronoque. Pencil in Feb. 5 when Career plays Cross for the second time. That could decide the division crown.
--Also pencil in Feb. 4. That is when undefeated Hyde travels to play at undefeated Cromwell. And yes, both teams will take care of business next week before the first round of Shoreline Conference supremacy begins.
--Next Friday, one-loss New Fairfield travels to play at undefeated Stratford in what could be a preview of the South-West Conference final. Only could be, because I'm sure we will hear from either Kolbe Cathedral or Notre Dame-Fairfield before it is said and done.

Notes from Friday night:
--St. Joseph coach Vito Montelli earned his 800th career win as the Cadets beat New Canaan
--Crosby point guard Anthony Ireland went over the 1,000-point barrier for his career.
--Sacred Heart remained undefeated by winning at Torrington, one of the toughest places to play, and withstanding a 39-point effort by state player of the year candidate Jordan Williams.
--Speaking of the Player of the Year race, Tevin Baskin of Trinity Catholic had 29 points as the Crusaders won at Harding. Pencil in Feb. 3 for the battle of Stamford unbeatens: Trinity Catholic at Stamford.
--Lastly, Friday night's first quarter between Hamden and Notre Dame-West Haven was quite possibly the worst I have ever seen in all my years covering both boys' AND girls' basketball. The two teams combined to miss 19 of 21 shots.
The lack of a shot clock was not an issue whatsoever, nor was it great defense. It was just a horrendous offensive showing for 8 minutes by a pair of teams that are better than that. It did turn out to be a decent game, won by Notre Dame 45-39. But games between programs like that should never be that low-scoring, no matter how good the defenses are. Never.

Feel free to provide your thoughts below on who you think will win division races in the SCC and the conference championships in any league in our state.