The relationship between the Eastern Connecticut Conference and Mohegan Sun grew stronger Thursday when the league announced the addition of the girls’ basketball championship games to be played next year at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Boys’ basketball tournament director Jim Buonocore, the assistant principal/athletic director at Ledyard High School, said Mohegan Sun granted the ECC a second night in the arena, allowing for girls to join the boys.

The girls’ Div. I and II title games will be played Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 and 8 p.m., a week before the boys’ games (Tuesday, March 3) also at 6 and 8 p.m.

“I can’t thank (Mohegan Sun Vice President of Sports & Entertainment) Tom Cantone and Mohegan Sun enough for their support,” Buonocore said. “The boys’ tournament was extremely successful last year and now we’re excited to bring the girls to a world class venue, too. Tom and his staff (Stephen Cholewa, Michael Libera, April Paris) are exceptional to work with and we admire their service to the community.”

Mohegan Sun was home to the ECC boys’ basketball finals this past February, drawing more than 3,000 fans to watch Waterford (Div. I) and St. Bernard (Div. II) win their respective championships.

Two weeks later, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference announced a record attendance number (more than 20,000) at Mohegan Sun Arena for the state high school championship games.