By D.M.Livingston|Published Jan 4, 2026

Waterbury-As the 2026 calendar turns, one thing is already clear in the NVL: what we thought we knew, we didn’t.

The preseason hierarchy—anchored by familiar powers WCA, Holy Cross, and Wilby—has been disrupted early. In their place, Woodland (Watertown) and Torrington have emerged as the league’s early tone-setters, signaling that the balance of power in NVL basketball is no longer centered solely in Waterbury.

The warning shots were loud.

Waterbury HighSchool Sports- NVL Showdown: Woodland Holds Strong, Watertown Stays Perfect

Torrington delivered a statement win over Holy Cross, while Woodland stunned Crosby—marking the first victory over the Bulldogs in program history. Results like these have reshaped expectations just weeks into the season and sent a clear message across the league: the NVL race is wide open.

Where Waterbury Stands

Among the five Waterbury schools, the picture is mixed:

• Crosby and Wilby have shown the most promise, flashing consistency and competitiveness despite early turbulence.
• Kennedy and Holy Cross have stumbled out of the gate, searching for rhythm and identity.
• As for defending champion WCA, the verdict remains out.

A perfect storm of water main breaks, weather postponements, and holiday disruptions has left the Spartans with a schedule heavy on non-conference games. Monday night’s home matchup against Crosby represents their first true measuring stick—and perhaps the most anticipated local test of the young season.

Waterbury HighSchool Sports Wilby Wildcats Dominate Immaculate, 77-41 improve to 3-1

What Comes Next

The early returns suggest something bigger than a slow start or hot streaks. The traditional Waterbury dominance of NVL basketball is being challenged earlier—and more convincingly—than in recent memory.

Tomorrow, The Waterbury Times will unveil its updated NVL Power Rankings, and for the first time this season, there will be a new No. 1 at the top ( not from Waterbury)

The NVL didn’t just turn the page on the calendar.
It turned the script.

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