Montville — It would be melodramatic to suggest that a victory Sunday for St. Bernard in the CIAC Division I championship game rivals the whole beating the Russians thing in Lake Placid. The Saints are the state’s defending Division II champions and earned their way to the 2024 finals honestly. (And strenuously, given their margins of victory: four, one, three).

But the opponent, Notre Dame of West Haven, owns the state’s most impressive credentials to date this season. The Green Knights are 26-0, won the Southern Connecticut Conference and won 24 of the 26 by at least 10 points. Translation: It is likely that even as difficult as the previous tournament wins have been against Crosby, Kolbe Cathedral and Ridgefield, this one might be Everest.

“They are a really good team,” St. Bernard coach Mark Jones said of the Green Knights.

But when asked about St. Bernard’s chances, there might have been just the hint of a wry grin.

“On any given Sunday,” Jones said, without even needing to complete the sentence.

And so here they are with a chance to repeat. The Saints (23-3), champions of the Eastern Connecticut Conference, winners of 14 straight postseason games and having already played twice this season at Mohegan Sun Arena, try to become the first boys’ basketball program in ECC history to win a championship in the state’s largest division (either Division I or Class LL).

The game tips at 8:15 p.m., the final of the 10 title games this weekend at Mohegan Sun. It will also be livestreamed on NFHS Network.

Notre Dame of West Haven, impressive resume notwithstanding, would also be considered fortunate to have advanced to the finals. The Green Knights needed a desperation three-pointer from sophomore Landon Krygier as time expired to force overtime in Wednesday’s semifinal against Notre Dame of Fairfield.

The Green Knights, coached by Connecticut College graduate Jason Shea, likely have the state’s best high school player in 6-3 sophomore Abdou Toure, who is already drawing high Division I interest. Toure shook off a slow start Wednesday and finished with 35 points.

St. Bernard advanced Wednesday in what was a de facto football game against Ridgefield, figuring out another way to win. The Saints trailed 41-34 midway through the fourth period before senior Colin O’Leary scored five straight points to start what would be the decisive 10-2 run that ultimately won the game.

Senior Amyre Gray led the Saints with 22 points in that game.

“We all came together,” Gray said, echoing the sentiment that will be required Sunday night as well.

m.dimauro@theday.com