Matt Knowling scored 17 of his game high 26 points in the final 11 minutes to help spark a 21-4 run as East Catholic rallied from a halftime deficit to win its fourth CCC Tournament title in five years with a 55-47 win over Northwest Catholic. Knowling, who left the game briefly with a third-quarter injury, came back with three minutes left in the period and his team trailing by four in a close game, to spark the Eagles to the win.

Two threes by Knowling in the closing minute of the third period gave the Eagles a 1-point edge heading into the final period. The Lions took a quick lead to open the period, but East Catholic went on an 11-0 run to seal the win. The Eagles held Northwest scoreless for much of the final period. Northwest led by five at the half but were never able to extend the lead as the Eagles hung close.

Knowling led all scorers wih 26 points. Brody Limric had 11 for the Eagles (23-1). Matt Curtis had 12 and Guy Ragland, Jr. added 11 to lead the Lions (20-4).

East Catholic reached the finals by beating Enfield 70-35 in the opening round and toppling Bristol Central 85-48 in the quarters. They outlasted Glastonbury 69-51 in the semis to reach their fifth straight CCC tournament final. The Lions knocked off the state’s number one team and defending tournament champion, Windsor in the semis to reach the finals for the first time in ten years. The Lions defeated Conard 62-32 in the opening round and beat Manchester 81-45 in the quarters.