Assembling our postseason MIAA awards reminds us of the depth of high school talent around the state.
We select three individual honors and three All-MIAA teams comprised of 15 total players statewide. Making the decisions was excruciating this year — even more challenging than our first go-round in 2025. Look through our honorable mentions and you'll still find standout players from the winter.
I consulted opposing coaches, pored over stats and reflected on my notes to determine the selections. Seniority and career achievements do not matter; only production and winning impact from this season are relevant.
Here are our All-MIAA honors.
Player of the Year: Naya Annigeri, Medfield
Class of 2027, 5-8 guard
Annigeri's impact on both ends of the floor was a microcosm of Medfield's season. The point guard averaged 18.9 points and 3.2 assists while hitting 49.6 percent of her total shots, 43 percent of her 3-pointers and 84 percent of her free throws. Then on defense, Annigeri spearheaded the top of Medfield's lauded press and picked up 5.4 steals per game.
Annigeri maintained excellent production in-state, winning Tri-Valley League MVP and averaging 17.6 points in the playoffs. But her best individual efforts came when Medfield tested itself against out-of-state foes. That included a 30-point, 11-rebound, 10-steal triple-double against Medgar Evans (N.Y.), then 28 points and eight steals against Bristol Central (Conn.) in the Hoophall Invitational, plus 17.7 points per game at the Londonderry Holiday Classic.
The MIAA was loaded with emerging star talent, but truthfully, this award was a two-player race. Annigeri and Wachusett's Jae Scott, who won our 2025 Player of the Year award, separated themselves from the pack on the state's two best teams. I leaned barely towards Annigeri, who was slightly more consistent. But you can absolutely make an argument for Scott's dominance as the MIAA's top college prospect.
Note: Annigeri played the 2025-26 winter season as a high school junior. She has since reclassified to 2028 and is transferring to Nobles.
Defensive Player of the Year: Eva Andrews, Needham
Class of 2026, 6-1 forward
NCAA: Bowdoin
Andrews blocked a mind-boggling 6.1 shots per game as the anchor of the Rockets defense. Her ability to move around the paint and contest without fouling led to some huge individual stat lines, like her 13-point, 23-rebound, 10-block triple-double against Natick. Andrews finished her high school career with more than 200 blocks largely coming from her senior season. She led Needham to a 16-7 record (10-3 in the Bay State Conference) and Div. 1 quarterfinal appearance, posting additional averages of 12 points, 13 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
Defensive Player of the Year was a contentious race and many of our All-MIAA picks were also in the hunt. I whittled it down to Andrews and Bishop Feehan guard Mollie Mullen as my two finalists. Either is deserving of this award.
Player of the Year frontrunners Annigeri and Scott are elite defenders themselves. Celia Neilson's off-ball and charge-drawing instincts also put her in the conversation.
Coach of the Year: Mark Nickerson, Medfield
I don't typically give this award to a coach with a roster we knew was talented. But many would have expected a step back from Medfield after Izzy Kittredge transferred to Nobles and Jailen Annigeri graduated. Instead, the Warriors repeated as Division 2 champions with a dominant, 25-0 season and a 37.9-point average margin of victory. Nickerson believes this was undoubtedly his best team he's ever coached, which is saying a lot.
Medfield's perfect run is a testament to the stars on the squad, but also Nickerson's oversight of a program that restocks talent year after year.
This season brought out the best from some of the MIAA's widely-respected head coaches. Alan Hibino's Andover squad far exceeded my expectations in reaching the Div. 1 semifinals. Amy Dolores (Bishop Feehan), Lisa Downs (Foxboro), Clinton Lassiter (Cathedral) and Steve Sullivan (Woburn) lost a ton of talent to graduation and returned with programs that all reached the quarterfinals or better. Lastly, I strongly considered Pittsfield head coach Kristy Conyers, who steered the Generals to their first state finals appearance since 2002 in her second season at the helm. Pittsfield is a combined 43-8 in Conyers' two seasons of leadership.
All-MIAA First Team
Naya Annigeri, Medfield
Class of 2027, 5-8 guard
We recognized Annigeri's season achievements that earned her Player of the Year above. So let's also note her impeccable three-year run at Medfield. She went 3-for-3 in Tri-Valley League MVP awards and state championships. She boasts a 71-4 cumulative record in high school, and she's been hovering close to 50-40-90 shooting splits in every single campaign. Without a significant score-first mentality, Annigeri proved herself one of the state's most impactful all-around players during her time on the Warriors.
Note: Annigeri played the 2025-26 winter season as a high school junior. She has since reclassified to 2028 and is transferring to Nobles.
Avery Gamble, Oliver Ames
Class of 2026, 5-7 guard
NCAA: Trinity
The Hockomock League Davenport MVP racked up 22.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game, helping the Tigers reach the Division 2 quarterfinals. Gamble finished her career third in program history with 1,526 points.
Mollie Mullen, Bishop Feehan
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
Hometown: Dighton, Mass.
NCAA: Stonehill
As Feehan's lone returning starter, Mullen led her squad back to the Div. 1 semifinals with 17 points and a whopping six steals per game. The Catholic Central League MVP swiped 10 or more steals in three separate contests and made six 3s in a single game twice.
Celia Neilson, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard/forward
Hometown: Georgetown, Mass.
Neilson's size, strength and toughness at point guard helped her amass 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 4.7 assists. She also drew 25 charges, including two in Fenwick's state championship triumph along with her 19 points.
Jae Scott, Wachusett
Class of 2026, 6-0 forward
NCAA: Tulsa
Scott wrapped an illustrious Wachusett career by averaging 18 points and leading the Mountaineers on a Division 1 repeat run. Her best individual effort of the season was a 33-point explosion in the Comcast Tournament against Bishop Feehan, and Scott also averaged 16.4 points in the state postseason. Scott's unique athletic gifts and two-way versatility made her arguably the toughest cover in the state.
All-MIAA Second Team
Abby Broderick, Medfield
Class of 2028, 5-10 wing
Broderick led the Division 2 champions in scoring with 19.1 points per game. She drilled 43 percent of her 3-point attempts and averaged 24.2 points in the state tournament, including a 25-point effort in the championship.
Kayla Dunlap, Natick
Class of 2028, 6-0 forward
Dunlap broke out in a massive way, averaging 21 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Redhawks, who reached the Div. 1 quarterfinals as a No. 6 seed. The Bay State Conference Carey Division MVP logged four performances of 30-plus points and was named MVP of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
Teegan Lanpher, Wachusett
Class of 2027, 5-3 guard
Lanpher was Wachusett's state tournament beacon, scoring 22 points in the Division 1 championship and averaging 20.4 points during the playoffs. On the season, her 17.3 points per game showed a significant leap in confidence as a shooter and creator.
Giavanna Mars, Springfield Central
Class of 2028, 5-6 guard
Mars paced the Div. 1 finalists with 18.7 points per game. She was consistently impactful as a scoring guard and pesky perimeter defender. Mars opened the winter with three games of 20-plus points and averaged 15.6 points per game in the state tournament.
Bella Bingham, Walpole
Class of 2026, 5-9 forward
NCAA: Fairfield (soccer)
Bingham was dynamic as a playmaking forward in Walpole's run to the Division 2 quarterfinals. The Bay State Conference Herget Division MVP collected 17.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.3 assists per game.
All-MIAA Third Team
Caitlin Boyle, Bishop Fenwick
Class of 2026, 6-2 forward
Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
NCAA: Stonehill
The other half of Bishop Fenwick's star tandem, Boyle tallied 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks while anchoring the Crusaders. Her top performances included 24 points and 10 rebounds against Cathedral, as well as 20 points and eight rebounds in the Norwell Invitational championship.
Sysy Mcausland Emmanuel, St. Mary’s
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
One of two All-MIAA freshmen, Emmanuel posted 15.1 points per game and guided St. Mary's to a Division 2 championship appearance. Her highlights included three games of 22 or more points during the state tournament as well as a 30-point eruption against Bishop Fenwick on Jan. 30.
Dylan Hurley, Whitman-Hanson
Class of 2026, 5-6 guard
NCAA: St. Anselm
Hurley captured Patriot League Keenan Division MVP honors, pacing the Panthers at 17.2 points per game while added 6.5 rebounds, four steals and two assists. She reached her career high with a 29-point outburst in the Round of 16 against Fontbonne and developed a reputation as one of the state's best crunch-time performers.
Maliah Pierre, Whitman-Hanson
Class of 2027, 5-9 wing
Pierre was right with her Panther teammate as a dynamic duo, The explosive wing averaged 16.5 points, eight rebounds and three steals with seven double-doubles. Pierre reached a new career best with 33 points against North Quincy and scored a team-high 19 points in Whitman-Hanson's Div. 2 quarterfinal thriller against Oliver Ames.
Zi'Yan Wallace, Springfield Central
Class of 2029, 5-10 wing
Wallace was the leading scorer in the Div. 1 final with 25 points, but that was only part of her statement first season at Springfield Central. She averaged 14.7 points per game with seven 20-point performances, including a season-high 27 against Minnechaug on Feb. 18.
Honorable mentions: Eva Andrews (Needham), Phoebe Carroll (Hopedale), Caprese Conyers (Pittsfield), Cara Dean (South Hadley), Gianah Estevez (Worcester South), Anna Freeman (Medway), Frankie Mazzini (Braintree), Jenna Mishou (Archbishop Williams), Elle Orlando (Notre Dame-Hingham), Adrianna Porazzo (Foxboro), Keyona Raines (Cathedral), Zahara Wilson (Minnechaug)
