Whenever the playoffs roll around in any sport, it’s usually easy to pinpoint a championship winner.
When it comes to the MIAA girls basketball statewide tournament, however, doing so can be a fickle exercise given the sheer number of possible candidates. There is endless parity across most fields, and this year’s Div. 1 grouping is no exception.
Springfield Central (17-3) trounced its competition in Western Massachusetts, and was rewarded with the top seed in the bracket. Zi’yan Wallace and Giavanna Mars look to propel their team on an extended run.
Second-ranked Bishop Feehan (17-4) appears poised for another deep postseason journey, especially with Stonehill commit and Catholic Central League MVP Mollie Mullen leading the charge. Could No. 3 Wachusett (17-3) force a rematch of last year’s championship with the Shamrocks? Last year, Jae Scott, Teegan Lanpher and the Mountaineers won the title with a thrilling 55-54 victory at UMass Lowell. If things pan out, the two schools could clash one more time in this year’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 High Community (17-3) made a run to the Div. 2 championship game last year, then moved up to Div. 1. The Bay State Conference is well represented, as No. 6 Natick (16-4) and No. 7 Braintree (15-5) have shown they can compete with any team, as has ninth-seeded Needham (14-6).
Eighth-seeded Woburn (19-1) is one of the top teams competing out of the Middlesex League, powered by Haleigh Adamowich.
The Div. 2 field might be the deepest in the commonwealth this year. Top-seeded and reigning state champion Medfield (20-0) picked up right where it left off from last year, looking unstoppable as the Warriors completed an undefeated regular season. Tri-Valley League All-Stars Naya Annigeri, Abby Broderick and Tess Baacke will look to help their program repeat.
Second-seeded Whitman-Hanson (19-2) ran through its Patriot League gauntlet with ease and have star players Dylan Hurley and Maliah Pierre to rely on. No. 3 St. Mary’s (19-3) always is a threat, as the Spartans reloaded with Sysy Emmanuel, McKenna O’Connell and Jillian Roberts leading the way. Adrianna Porazzo turned in another great season for No. 4 Foxboro (19-1), and the Warriors will be one of the top contenders once again.
No. 6 Walpole (14-6) is a strong team to watch. Seventh-ranked Oliver Ames (15-5) will look to make a statement as well. Avery Gamble might just be one of the state’s best athletes, leading the Hockomock League in scoring.
Kristen McDonnell’s latest squad at Norwood (17-3) is back in the mix. The No. 8 Mustangs turn to Ellen Baranowski and Lillianna Cordani for firepower on both ends of the court.
The Patriot League also boasts three more schools capable of deep playoff trips with No. 9 North Quincy (13-7), No. 11 Duxbury (14-6) and No. 16 Hingham (13-8) all expected to be tough outs.
Led by CCL Offensive Player of the Year Celia Nelson, Bishop Fenwick (15-5) seized the top seed in this year’s Div. 3 bracket. The Crusaders (15-5), who are spearheaded by Caitlin Boyle and Reese Spurchise, showed resilience playing one of the state’s toughest schedules.
There are other Div. 3 teams that could cause problems for Bishop Fenwick. No. 2 Pittsfield (16-5) is a team to be feared, and will continue to be a force in the statewide playoffs.
Third-seeded Apponequet (21-1) enjoyed one of its best seasons ever, led by South Coast Conference All-Stars Cece Levrault, Hannah Kuriscak, Kate Suneson and Elyza Wagner. The Lakers are in a difficult quadrant of the bracket and might have to overcome No. 6 Pembroke (13-7) to advance to the Final Four. Coached by Tim Lopes and led by Patriot League Fisher MVP Alissa Marcella and Nichols commit Sophie Derochea, the Titans are capable of embarking on a great playoff run themselves.
On the opposite side of the bracket, No. 4 Medway (16-4) will attempt to prove its epic season was no fluke. Fifth-seeded Cathedral (12-8) had its ups and downs all season, but don’t be fooled by its record as the Panthers are consistently a threat.
No. 8 North Reading (19-2) and eighth-seeded Pentucket (16-5) are both dangerous teams out of the Cape Ann League. No. 9 Hanover (12-8) has shown consistency against great competition as well. No. 11 East Bridgewater (16-4) and No. 13 Norwell (11-9) serve as South Shore League squads to watch.
Div. 4 is a difficult field to project. Frontier (17-3) opted for a tougher schedule and attained the top seed. Millis (15-5) is the No. 2 seed and will attempt to build upon last year’s Final Four run. Third-seeded South Hadley (11-10) is certainly battle-tested and looks to get back to the championship game. Meanwhile, No. 4 Millbury (14-6) has continued to construct a strong program in recent years.
Some sleepers in the field include No. 11 Hamilton-Wenham (11-9), which had wins over some of the state’s better teams during the regular season. No. 16 New Heights (19-1), No. 17 Tahanto (18-2) and even No. 25 Wareham (17-3) are interesting teams to monitor.
Drury (16-5) is the top seed in Div. 5 and comes off its first Western Mass. championship since 2001. The Blue Devils are one of the most improved teams in the field, and have momentum as they attempt to make a run at history. No. 2 Hopedale (13-7) fought some tough tests all winter and is a candidate to begin a winning streak.
Two schools enter the field with unblemished records, as third-seeded Douglas and No. 7 Minuteman both enter at 20-0. Can either complete a perfect season? That remains to be seen.
St. John Paul II (18-3) is listed as the fourth seed after dominating the Cape and Islands League.
PREDICTIONS
DIV. 1
Champion: No. 3 Wachusett
Final Four: No. 2 Bishop Feehan, No. 3 Wachusett, No. 4 Andover, No. 8 Woburn
Sleeper: No. 28 Winchester
Best First Round Matchup: No. 16 Hopkinton vs. No. 17 Bridgewater-Raynham
Potential Upset: No. 28 Winchester over No. 5 South High Community
DIV. 2
Champion: No. 1 Medfield
Final Four: No. 1 Medfield, No. 2 Whitman-Hanson, No. 3 St. Mary’s, No. 4 Foxboro
Sleeper: No. 21 Danvers
Best First Round 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
Final Four: No. 1 Bishop Fenwick, No. 3 Apponequet, No. 5 Cathedral, No. 7 North Reading
Sleeper: No. 3 Whittier Tech
Best First Round Matchup: No. 28 Hudson vs. No. 37 Auburn
Potential Upset: No. 38 Gardner over No. 27 Dedham
DIV. 4
Champion: No. 2 Millis
Final Four: No. 1 Frontier, No. 2 Millis, No. 4 Millbury, No. 11 Hamilton-Wenham
Sleeper: No. 27 O’Bryant
Best First Round 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
Final Four: No. 1 Drury, No. 2 Hopedale, No. 3 Douglas, No. 4 St. John Paul II
Sleeper: No. 24 Snowden
Best First Round Matchup: No. 27 Boston Collegiate Charter vs. No. 38 Abby Kelley Foster
Potential Upset: No. 39 Pioneer Charter of Science II over No. 26 Hull
