By D.M.Livingston | The Waterbury Times|Published Feb 2 2026
Waterbury-February has arrived, and with it comes the most intense stretch of the NVL high school basketball season. The margin for error is gone. Every possession matters. Every game shifts the bracket. As teams jockey for position in the NVL Tournament and the CIAC State Tournament, the picture is finally starting to crystallize.
Here’s where things stand heading into the final regular-season push.
Who’s In — Right Now
These programs have solidified their place in the postseason conversation and control their own destiny:
- Woodland
- Wilby
- Holy Cross
- St. Paul
- Watertown
- Torrington
- Ansonia
- Naugatuck
This group represents the current core of the NVL playoff field. Some are fighting for seeding, others for positioning, but all are firmly in the mix as February basketball ramps up.
Waterbury Career Academy Faces Season-Defining Two-Game Stretch, Playoffs hopes on the Line
Magic Number Watch
- Crosby sits right on the edge with a magic number of 1
One more win — will trigger a play-in scenario with 9 teams qualified for the 8 team NVL tournament.
Outside Looking In
These teams aren’t done yet — but they need help:
- WCA
- Seymour
- Oxford
Mathematically, paths still exist if the cards fall right. That means upset wins, tiebreakers, and some help from above. February basketball always delivers chaos — and these programs are hoping to take advantage of it.
The Tier Breakdown: Where the Power Really Sits
As records tighten and schedules thin, clear tiers have emerged across the NVL.
🔹 Tier 1: The Logjam
Holy Cross (10–4)
Tier 1 is crowded and dangerous. Four teams sit at 7+ wins, creating nightly volatility. Every matchup inside this tier feels like a playoff game already. One win can move you up two spots — one loss can do the opposite.
Note: WCA is the lone team in this tier with just 3 wins, highlighting how brutal the middle of the NVL has been this season.
🔹 Tier 2: The Contenders
Wilby (12–2)
St. Paul (10+ wins)
This tier separates the real contenders from the pack. Three teams own 9+ wins, and two — Wilby and St. Paul — have already cracked double digits. These teams aren’t just postseason-bound; they’re positioning themselves for deep NVL and state tournament runs.
Wilby, in particular, has been one of the most consistent teams in the league on both ends of the floor.
Crosby vs. Wilby — A Rivalry Measured in Years, Streaks, and Pride
🔹 Tier 3: The Standard
Woodland (14–0)
Tier 3 stands alone.
Woodland has created separation in a league where separation is rare. With a four-game lead over Watertown, the Hawks control the regular-season narrative. Undefeated, battle-tested, and disciplined, Woodland enters February as the standard everyone else is chasing.
The question isn’t whether Woodland is for real — it’s who can close the gap before postseason play begins.
February Basketball Is Different
This is the month where rotations tighten. Defense travels. Road wins mean more. And teams stop talking about potential and start talking about results.
The NVL Tournament is approaching. State tournament seeding is on the line. Rivalries intensify. Legacies start to form.
From undefeated runs to last-gasp playoff pushes, February is where the season is decided — and The Waterbury Times will have it covered every step of the way.
Stay locked in. The stretch run is here. 🏀🔥
Leave a Reply