Most MIAA teams only played one game in the last week with winter tournaments wrapping up, plus a consensus two days off when the calendar flipped to 2025.
But even with fewer games, we still received several big-time performances that led to some tough choices for this week's awards. All five honorees are members of the 2026 class, and they include stars from a pair of marquee matchups that altered the perceived hierarchy in the state.
Coaches and players can submit nominations by emailing Ethan Fuller at ethan.fuller@basketballjournal.com or by messaging him on Twitter/X (@ethman43).
Here are this week’s five standouts:
Avery Gamble, Oliver Ames
Class of 2026, 5-8 guard
Gamble has been on fire all season, but her most important scoring outburst came on Friday. The junior put up 22 points in the statement game of the week: a 52-48 win for the Tigers against Hockomock League rival Foxboro, ranked second in our power rankings. She's averaging 23.7 points through six contests.
Alissa Marcella, Pembroke
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
Marcella also shined in a huge victory for the Titans, who downed Patriot League rival North Quincy in a matchup of then-unbeatens. Marcella totaled 24 points in that game, then returned with 15 on Saturday to help Pembroke beat Sandwich.
Sarah Poland, Lincoln-Sudbury
Class of 2026, 6-0 forward
Poland was critical in the Warriors defeating Bedford, 67-56, in a Dual County League matchup Friday. She amassed a big double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Nikki Rao, Newton North
Class of 2026, guard/forward
Rao logged her second 30-point explosion of the season on Friday, helping the Tigers defeat Brookline, 61-37.
Jaelynn Scott, Wachusett
Class of 2026, 6-0 forward
Scott continues to dominate for the 6-0 Mountaineers. She posted 29 points, 12 rebounds and six steals in Wachusett's closest contest to date — still a 53-40 win against Nashoba.
Other notable performances:Â In the same Lincoln-Sudbury win against Bedford, Buccaneers guard Ashley Cohen deserves a shoutout for her game-high 27 points. ... Bishop Fenwick forward Caitlin Boyle tallied 22 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in Friday's 55-39 win against Archbishop Williams. ... Bridgewater-Raynham senior Brenna Woodbury reached a career-high 22 points in Sunday's 60-37 victory over Dracut. ... Emilia Maria-Babcock (26 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) helped Everett notch its first win of the season against Chelsea on Thursday. ... Sawyer Bradford's 26 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, helped Hanover hang on in a 50-46 win over Plymouth South Thursday. ... Serenity West accounted for nearly half of Greater Lawrence's points Thursday, scoring 27 in a 56-33 win against Rockport.
