With defending champion St. Mary’s gone to Division 2 because of MIAA realignment, the door to a Division 3 state championship is wide open for a bevy of talented teams.
The Spartans opposition in last year’s final, Norwell, lost its dynamic duo of Maddie Oliver and Reagan Dowd but returns talented juniors Tess Murray and Alex Cassidy. One of the most talented teams in the division resides in Pittsfield as seniors Harolyn Castillo and Bri’Jay Ellerbee, along with sophomore Caprese Conyers hope to take the Generals a step further than last year’s semifinal appearance.
Longtime Fontbonne coach Clare Murphy’s Ducks fell in the Elite Eight, but led by rising junior Alana MacLean and seniors Emma Jolley and Kate MacLean, they are a big threat. Medway also returns a boatload of talent, led by seniors Anna Freeman, Ava Curtis and Victoria Bullard.
If St. Mary’s was D3 royalty, fellow Catholic Central League rival Cathedral has been the queens of D4. The three-time defending champions lost much of their starting lineup from last season but coach Clinton Lassiter still has the services of guard Tamia Darling.
South Hadley came as close as anyone has to the Panthers in the last four seasons in losing last year’s title bout, but the talented trio of Cara Dean, Kate Phillips and Olivia Athas returns for another shot. Millis came within seconds of being in the final before losing to South Hadley in the semifinals, but Ella Maher, Grace Higgins and Caroline Connors want to go one step further.
Union-bound Addy Andrews and Cohasset reached the final eight last season, while Bourne and new coach Naomi Tavares-Silva return talented seniors Olivia Meda and Raeghan Blake. Carver and its super sophomore Josie Helms along with senior Julia Fernandez and freshman Jolee McGinnity also are threats.
Hoosac Valley and coach Jon Frederick completed a dream season with a title last year, but the Hurricanes lost the bulk of that squad to graduation. Senior Regan Shea is back to lead the way, along with sophomore Genevieve Lagess and freshman Gianna Witek.
Renaissance battled right to the end in losing that final but they return maybe the deepest and most talented teams across the state, led by Sy’Nye Baker and Zi’Yan and Zh’Nai Wallace. St. John Paul II might argue that point as the Lions return nearly everyone from a Final Four team last season, headed by talented seniors Marlo Jumper, Michaela Enright, Raegan Dillon and Devin Clifford.
Another talented team from the Pioneer Valley is Lee, led by senior guard Tamia Andrade. Sophomore Mika Dillon will also be a big contributor. Maynard is led by senior Caleigh Currier.
