We're going to be getting into the fun stuff now when it comes to high school basketball, the conference games.
The holiday tournaments are just about over with a few more to be completed on this Saturday before the New Year's holiday three-day break.
But it all begins again on Wednesday with some Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division games and some cross over match ups between the Medium and Large.
The real fun begins on Friday for the girls as we have the first of the big matchups which pits Montville against Bacon Academy.
How the Medium Division will finish is a mystery to most especially after Montville handed Windham a 20-point loss. The Indians seem to have the inside track in that division and with Caitlin Quinn back to her deadly self from outside after a slow start, it will give teams fits to keep up with the Indians. Nikkia Smith inside, Quinn outside and just for a little added dimension, Lindsay Stergio slashing down the lane.
Montville still has to play not only Bacon but also Stonington with Heather Buck. The Bears are off to a fine 7-0 start although they haven't been making headlines because they haven't met much of the iron yet. Buck is back to her old self as she continues to close in on the 2,000-point mark for her high school career.
I wouldn't push Griswold aside, either, as the Wolverines may be capable of an upset along the road.
One things for sure, we'll see you courtside over the next couple of months.

If you get the idea that this will be an unpredictable basketball season in the Eastern Connecticut Conference, you're probably right.
I'm only going to go out on a limb on one thing, and this is a very strong limb we're talking about.
In boys basketball, New London is the team to beat and no one in the ECC is going to do it. The Whalers will have no trouble winning the ECC Small and shouldn't have much trouble winning the league title either.
There are always ifs, an injury to Allan Chaney, other issues that may crop up, but outside of those- New London is the favorite.
NFA should be tops in the Large Division but the Wildcats will be able to ill afford an off night from R.J. Evans. They are vulnerable if that occurs and a Woodstock, Ledyard or East Lyme could take advantage of that.
Throw some names in the basket and pick one out in the Medium. Bacon Academy is off to a fast start. Stonington knocked off Killingly without Kevin Donahue. The Redmen have Shane Gibson but are not large and aren't great outside shooters and Windham is very quick although not very big.
Just some early thoughts on the high school boys basketball season, we will do the same with the girls season on Sunday.

The Waterford Lancer Holiday wrestling tournament provided some interesting moments especially one between two Eastern Connecticut Conference schools, Windham and Fitch.
Tempers got a little hot after Justin Beers of the Falcons nipped Tony Torres of the Whippets 5-3 in overtime in the 125-pound weight class.
The argument wasn't about the decision as much as about the wrestling as Torres threw Beers down twice on his right shoulder. Fitch coach Mark Kosman said he considered ending the match after the second throw down because Beers was in pain but his wrestler indicated he wanted to go on. As far as wrestling was concerned, it was the right decision as a move by Beers got him the take down in the final seconds of overtime to give him his first tournament championship ever.
"It's what I train for and I wasn't going to give it up that easy," Beers said.
Windham coach Pat Risley and members of the Fitch contingent got into a little verbal altercation after the match although both Kosman and Risley downplayed that afterwards.
Risley said it was just a little bit too much in the way of drama, Kosman said it wasn't anything between him and the Windham coach.
"It wasn't me and Pat, we have a good relationship, he's a great coach, I have nothing against him," Kosman said.

It's a story that I have been meaning to write for a while.
I can't tell you how many times people have come up to me and said 'my son (or daughter) is Division I material'.
Usually, I just shake my head in a polite fashion and listen to what they have to say, all the while knowing that there are so few Division I basketball players that have come out of Eastern Connecticut.
You have to marvel at the three young men who have aspired to such lofty heights and have battled to get where they are.
Yes, they have God-given ability. Yes they have the bodies the college coaches are looking for but New London's Allan Chaney, NFA's R.J. Evans and Killingly's Shane Gibson also have the heart, desire and drive to make their dreams into reality.
Will they make it to the pros?
Who knows.
Chaney, if he performs well for Billy Donovan's program at the University of Florida, would have the inside track. Evans, at Holy Cross, and Gibson, at Sacred Heart, will have a tougher road. But all three have already learned and earned something from this great sport of basketball- an education.
Check out what the three players have to say about how to become a Division I basketball player in today's edition of the Norwich Bulletin and on-line at norwichbulletin.com.

Some early prognostications for you from the early returns in girls basketball.
The Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium Division is going to be tough.
I know, tell us something we don't know.
There were some question marks with some of the better teams in the Division which will be the most competitive in the league this year.
Windham answered most of theirs with an easy win over Waterford as coach Ken Valliere probably has a deeper bench than a year ago. They don't possess a lot of height which could be troublesome when they meet up with Montville and Stonington.
The Indians have the most improved player I have seen thus far in Nikkia Smith. The six-foot-one-inch junior center was very impressive against E.O. Smith and they also feature the perimeter shooting of Caitlin Quinn and the slashing style of Lindsay Stergio. Andrea Daniels is a nice weak-side rebounder who can score on put backs, Nichole Delaney offers up some key baskets and Nini Giansanti adds depth, it's a good-looking club for Derek Wainwright.
Stonington may have the biggest answer but also the most questions. It's hard to argue with the talents of 6-4 center Heather Buck but the Bears have lost three of their top six players from a year ago, one to Fitch, one to gymnastics and one who chose not to come out. Sophomore Caroline Gosselin did score 10 points in the opener vs. St. Bernard and Emily Castle, back after a year off, added eight.
I'm hopefully going to get a chance to see Bacon this Friday vs. Fitch because the Bobcats are in this mix with almost everyone back from a year ago. Bacon is off to a 2-0 start after wins over RHAM and Lyman but Fitch will offer a good challenge.

I loved what Montville senior Caitlin Quinn told me because it is indeed the truth.
Any one who thinks that most high school kids are oblivious to what goes on at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods have slept under the covers too long.
Walk into the Sun and there are kids ( under 18) on the premises. They may not be in the casino but they are in the stores, restaurants, hanging out, where ever they are allowed to hang out.
It's not the mall any more Mom and Dad, it's the Casino.
So what's wrong with the Eastern Connecticut Conference playing its girls championship game there?
Nothing.
If anything, it has a lot of positives to it.
Bye-bye home court advantage for someone (usually NFA for the girls). Hello to a big time experience for the players.
It's something to be excited about, not afraid of.
Now, if we can just get all the principals on the same page, we'll be headed in the right direction.

If you get a chance this winter, you might want to check out the Marianapolis Golden Knights.
I had a chance to see them in action during the Hoop Mountain Prep School Basketball Classic this past Friday and if you like above-the-rim style activity, you're going to love the Knights.
Marianapolis has some players who will be on Division I rosters as early as next season led by Mike Myers-Keitt from Waterbury via Norwalk via Brooklyn, N.Y.
Myers-Keitt decided to take a year of prep school in, not only to help himself academically, but also to help himself in the eyes of Division I college basketball coaches. Many of whom had their eye on the six-foot-seven-inch prospect all weekend long.
Marianapolis coach Dave Vitale has also spoken highly of Aaron Strothers and shooting guard Niko Vukadinovic from Montenegro who can be a lights out three-point specialist.
When I saw them, Marianapolis didn't even have their point man running the show, Corey Wright, was sitting beside me doing the Marianapolis book at the scorer's table because he had tweaked his ankle the day before and the Knights still beat the Elite Shooting Stars 94-42.
Can Marianapolis capture the "B" Division New England Prep title, I wouldn't sell them short. As Vitale said, "his team has a lot of answers."
Check the Knights out, they're fun to watch.

Call me a wimp but there are times when you realize when you have been beaten and old Mother Nature did that to many of us on State Championship Saturday.
There were the intrepid ones such as my colleague, Brian Girasoli, who opted to stand on the sidelines to watch the New London - Ansonia Class S football championship in West Haven.
But in New Britain, the majority of the reporting cast decided to stay in the warm confines of the press box.
Looking out, to tell you the truth, I felt sorry for those sitting in the stands. At Arute Field at CCSU, the stands are right below the press box and therefore sit in the shadows with the wind whipping through, not a pleasant experience.
If there was one saving grace in New Britain, the football game was worth the battle with the cold as it was only decided in the last 10 seconds when Ledyard made its second great goal line stand of the playoffs.
Who stripped the ball?
No one knew.
Who stopped Jack Cooper from getting into the end zone?
Marc Mignault and a host of others.
But one thing was for sure.
The Ledyard Colonels won their fourth state championship under coach Bill Mignault and that made it all worth it for the Ledyard fans.