Podcast: Previewing the MIAA girls state tournament with Boston Globe’s Trevor Hass

St. Mary's Bella Owumi (right) and Medfield's Izzy Kittredge will lead their teams in the MIAA state tournament. (Ethan Fuller/NEBJ)

The MIAA state tournament is here, and the latest HoopWise Podcast breaks down all the drama and intrigue in the girls brackets.

Boston Globe reporter Trevor Hass joins host Ethan Fuller to unpack each of the five girls divisions. They touch on the top teams in each bracket, sleeper teams they’re keeping an eye on, and storylines that could define the next three weeks.

They also highlight the standout players that will be featured in the state tournament, from Bishop Feehan’s defending champion rotation and backcourt, to stars like Jaelynn Scott at Wachusett, Kat Cheesebro at Dartmouth, Ava Orlando at Notre Dame (Hingham), Kailey Sullivan at Foxboro, and many more.

For each division, Ethan and Trevor make their championship predictions and defend their picks.

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Highlights

What makes Foxboro the Division 3 title pick as a No. 2 seed?

Trevor: “It starts with Kailey Sullivan. I don’t know if she’s the best player in the state, but she’s probably the most fearless player in the state. She’s maybe the most versatile player in the state. She can score from 3, she can score in midrange, she can score in the paint. She kind of has a feel for whatever the game needs and provides that at the right moment.”

What has you excited about Notre Dame (Hingham) and its potential in Division 2?

Trevor: “If I’m down one with 10 seconds left in the championship game and I had to choose one player, I’d choose Ava Orlando. She makes great decisions. She’s an outstanding shooter. She’s one of the best dribblers in the state, maybe the best dribbler straight-up. Really, really good passer, really, really good facilitator (and) overall playmaker in general. Just kind of has a feel for the game and makes the right read. And Elle (Orlando) right next to her — if Ava’s doubled, Elle’s going to knock it down in the corner. They have a lot of, a lot of really good players. I think they’ve kind of improved from last year.”

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