At any time when the playoffs roll round in any sport, it’s often straightforward to pinpoint a championship winner.
In relation to the MIAA ladies basketball statewide match, nonetheless, doing so could be a fickle train given the sheer variety of attainable candidates. There’s infinite parity throughout most fields, and this yr’s Div. 1 grouping is not any exception.
Springfield Central (17-3) trounced its competitors in Western Massachusetts, and was rewarded with the highest seed within the bracket. Zi’yan Wallace and Giavanna Mars look to propel their crew on an prolonged run.
Second-ranked Bishop Feehan (17-4) seems poised for an additional deep postseason journey, particularly with Stonehill commit and Catholic Central League MVP Mollie Mullen main the cost. May No. 3 Wachusett (17-3) drive a rematch of final yr’s championship with the Shamrocks? Final yr, Jae Scott, Teegan Lanpher and the Mountaineers gained the title with an exciting 55-54 victory at UMass Lowell. If issues pan out, the 2 colleges might conflict yet one more time on this yr’s Div. 1 semifinals.
No. 4 Andover (19-1) is once again a formidable team vying for its first title since 2023. Fifth-seeded South Excessive Neighborhood (17-3) made a run to the Div. 2 championship sport final yr, then moved as much as Div. 1. The Bay State Convention is nicely represented, as No. 6 Natick (16-4) and No. 7 Braintree (15-5) have proven they will compete with any crew, as has ninth-seeded Needham (14-6).
Eighth-seeded Woburn (19-1) is likely one of the prime groups competing out of the Middlesex League, powered by Haleigh Adamowich.
The Div. 2 discipline is likely to be the deepest within the commonwealth this yr. High-seeded and reigning state champion Medfield (20-0) picked up proper the place it left off from final yr, wanting unstoppable because the Warriors accomplished an undefeated common season. Tri-Valley League All-Stars Naya Annigeri, Abby Broderick and Tess Baacke will look to assist their program repeat.
Second-seeded Whitman-Hanson (19-2) ran through its Patriot League gauntlet with ease and have star gamers Dylan Hurley and Maliah Pierre to depend on. No. 3 St. Mary’s (19-3) at all times is a menace, because the Spartans reloaded with Sysy Emmanuel, McKenna O’Connell and Jillian Roberts main the way in which. Adrianna Porazzo turned in one other nice season for No. 4 Foxboro (19-1), and the Warriors will likely be one of many prime contenders as soon as once more.
No. 6 Walpole (14-6) is a robust crew to observe. Seventh-ranked Oliver Ames (15-5) will look to make an announcement as nicely. Avery Gamble may simply be one of many state’s greatest athletes, main the Hockomock League in scoring.
Kristen McDonnell’s newest squad at Norwood (17-3) is again within the combine. The No. 8 Mustangs flip to Ellen Baranowski and Lillianna Cordani for firepower on each ends of the court docket.
The Patriot League additionally boasts three extra colleges able to deep playoff journeys with No. 9 North Quincy (13-7), No. 11 Duxbury (14-6) and No. 16 Hingham (13-8) all anticipated to be powerful outs.
Led by CCL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Celia Nelson, Bishop Fenwick (15-5) seized the highest seed on this yr’s Div. 3 bracket. The Crusaders (15-5), who’re spearheaded by Caitlin Boyle and Reese Spurchise, confirmed resilience taking part in one of many state’s hardest schedules.
There are different Div. 3 groups that would trigger issues for Bishop Fenwick. No. 2 Pittsfield (16-5) is a crew to be feared, and can proceed to be a drive within the statewide playoffs.
Third-seeded Apponequet (21-1) enjoyed one of its best seasons ever, led by South Coast Convention All-Stars Cece Levrault, Hannah Kuriscak, Kate Suneson and Elyza Wagner. The Lakers are in a tough quadrant of the bracket and may need to beat No. 6 Pembroke (13-7) to advance to the Remaining 4. Coached by Tim Lopes and led by Patriot League Fisher MVP Alissa Marcella and Nichols commit Sophie Derochea, the Titans are able to embarking on an awesome playoff run themselves.
On the other aspect of the bracket, No. 4 Medway (16-4) will try to show its epic season was no fluke. Fifth-seeded Cathedral (12-8) had its ups and downs all season, however don’t be fooled by its document because the Panthers are constantly a menace.
No. 8 North Studying (19-2) and eighth-seeded Pentucket (16-5) are each harmful groups out of the Cape Ann League. No. 9 Hanover (12-8) has proven consistency towards nice competitors as nicely. No. 11 East Bridgewater (16-4) and No. 13 Norwell (11-9) function South Shore League squads to observe.
Div. 4 is a tough discipline to venture. Frontier (17-3) opted for a more durable schedule and attained the highest seed. Millis (15-5) is the No. 2 seed and can try to construct upon final yr’s Remaining 4 run. Third-seeded South Hadley (11-10) is actually battle-tested and appears to get again to the championship sport. In the meantime, No. 4 Millbury (14-6) has continued to assemble a robust program lately.
Some sleepers within the discipline embody No. 11 Hamilton-Wenham (11-9), which had wins over among the state’s higher groups through the common season. No. 16 New Heights (19-1), No. 17 Tahanto (18-2) and even No. 25 Wareham (17-3) are attention-grabbing groups to observe.
Drury (16-5) is the highest seed in Div. 5 and comes off its first Western Mass. championship since 2001. The Blue Devils are probably the most improved groups within the discipline, and have momentum as they try to make a run at historical past. No. 2 Hopedale (13-7) fought some powerful checks all winter and is a candidate to start a profitable streak.
Two colleges enter the sector with unblemished information, as third-seeded Douglas and No. 7 Minuteman each enter at 20-0. Can both full an ideal season? That continues to be to be seen.
St. John Paul II (18-3) is listed because the fourth seed after dominating the Cape and Islands League.
PREDICTIONS
DIV. 1
Champion: No. 3 Wachusett
Remaining 4: No. 2 Bishop Feehan, No. 3 Wachusett, No. 4 Andover, No. 8 Woburn
Sleeper: No. 28 Winchester
Finest First Spherical Matchup: No. 16 Hopkinton vs. No. 17 Bridgewater-Raynham
Potential Upset: No. 28 Winchester over No. 5 South Excessive Neighborhood
DIV. 2
Champion: No. 1 Medfield
Remaining 4: No. 1 Medfield, No. 2 Whitman-Hanson, No. 3 St. Mary’s, No. 4 Foxboro
Sleeper: No. 21 Danvers
Finest First Spherical Matchup: No. 27 Notre Dame (Hingham) vs. No. 38 Marblehead
Potential Upset: No. 40 Somerville over No. 25 Milford
DIV. 3
Champion: No. 1 Bishop Fenwick
Remaining 4: No. 1 Bishop Fenwick, No. 3 Apponequet, No. 5 Cathedral, No. 7 North Studying
Sleeper: No. 3 Whittier Tech
Finest First Spherical Matchup: No. 28 Hudson vs. No. 37 Auburn
Potential Upset: No. 38 Gardner over No. 27 Dedham
DIV. 4
Champion: No. 2 Millis
Remaining 4: No. 1 Frontier, No. 2 Millis, No. 4 Millbury, No. 11 Hamilton-Wenham
Sleeper: No. 27 O’Bryant
Finest First Spherical Matchup: No. 28 Blue Hills vs. No. 37 New Mission
Potential Upset: No. 46 Academy of Notre Dame over No. 19 Mashpee
DIV. 5
Champion: No. 2 Hopedale
Remaining 4: No. 1 Drury, No. 2 Hopedale, No. 3 Douglas, No. 4 St. John Paul II
Sleeper: No. 24 Snowden
Finest First Spherical Matchup: No. 27 Boston Collegiate Constitution vs. No. 38 Abby Kelley Foster
Potential Upset: No. 39 Pioneer Constitution of Science II over No. 26 Hull
