The Waterbury Times|TWT Sports Desk|Published Mar 17, 2026|Update Mar 26, 2026 11:32AM
UPDATE: At Mohegan Sun Arena, on a Saturday in March, a historic season can to an end when the final buzzer sounded and the Woodland Hawks suffered their first lost of the season to Windham Tech 73-62 in the Division IV CIAC State Championship Boys Title Game.
After winning their first ever NVL Naugatuck Valley League Championship with a resounding win over the 3x defending champion powerhouse Waterbury Career Academy in the title game, The Woodland Hawks took to the States and advance with 4 more wins putting the season record at 26-0 as they entered their first ever State Championship Appearance.
READ HOW THE HAWKS DOMINATED THE NVL>>Woodland Completes Undefeated NVL Season with Dominant Win Over Three-Time Defending Champs WCA
“RUN TO THE SUN”: How did WE GET HERE?
1ST ROUND- BYE
2ND ROUND- Win over Watertown 80-43
Quarter Finals- Win over Griswold 76-55
Semi Finals- Win over Cromwell 62-56
The Hawks would battle until end before losing 73-62 to surprise (6)Windham Tech. Senior John Napiello ( TWT SPORTS DESK PLAYER OF THE YEAR ) finished with 23pts and NVL TOURNAMENT MVP Aiden Pringle finished with 17pts.
This season will go down in the books as one the greatest runs a NVL teams has gone on in sometime. Even though the Hawks fell one game short, History was still made.
*** Original Reporting Begins***
Published Mar 17, 2026
Waterbury- The Woodland Regional High School Boys Basketball are one win away from history.
With a 53–41 victory over Cromwell High School Boys Basketball, the Hawks improved to a perfect 26–0 and advanced to the first CIAC state championship game in program history.
Now, as the last remaining team from the Naugatuck Valley League, Woodland will face Windham Technical High School Boys Basketball for the title.
Battle-Tested Through the NVL
Woodland’s undefeated run didn’t come easy.
The Hawks sharpened both their skill and confidence against some of the toughest competition in the NVL, picking up key wins on the road at Crosby, defeating WCA 2x including the Championship Game and taking down rival Watertown three times this season including in the CIAC TOURNAMENT.
Those battles helped shape a team that now stands alone with a chance to bring a state championship back to the league.
One Game Away
With an unblemished record and momentum on their side, Woodland now steps onto the biggest stage in Connecticut high school basketball.
The opponent is set. The stakes are clear.
And the rest of the state is starting to understand what the NVL already knows—
It gets different when you’re in the Woods.
Game Details
Matchup:
Woodland Regional High School Boys Basketball vs. Windham Technical High School Boys Basketball
Event: CIAC State Championship
Date: March 21/22 (CIAC Finals Weekend)
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena
Records:
- Woodland: 26–0
- Windham Tech: 25–6
What’s at Stake
- Historic First: Woodland is playing in its first-ever CIAC state championship game.
- Last NVL Team Standing: The Hawks are the only remaining Naugatuck Valley League team with a shot at the title.
- Momentum vs. Experience: Woodland (26–0) faces a battle-tested Windham Tech (25–6) in a clash of skill, strategy, and confidence.
- City Pride: A win would not just crown a champion—it would put Woodland on the Basketball Map in Ct
- Legacy: Every shot, every play, now counts toward making history for the program and the league.
Related News:
TWT SPORTS DESK HONORS — NVL BOYS BASKETBALL (2026)
2026 NVL Boys Basketball Tournament — Playoff Matchups & Predictions
NVL Announces 2026 Boys Basketball All-Conference Teams; Napiello Named Top Senior
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