As we've explained in our preseason coverage, the upcoming MIAA girls season will be defined by the success of its defending champions.
But the exciting part about high school basketball is there are so many teams that could shake up the state title hunt.
I've got my eye on some that didn't quite make my initial power rankings. These teams are all favorites to win in their respective conferences, but by March, we could be talking about them shining on the statewide tournament stage.
Here are five teams I'm buying in on as underrated championship contenders.
MORE:Â Preseason MIAA Power Rankings | MIAA season preview podcast
Bourne
Coach: Steve Wenzel
Last season: 20-3 lost in Div. 4 quarterfinals to Tyngsboro
Players to watch: Raeghan Blake, G/F; Paige Meda, G; McKinley Wenzel, G
The state will be waiting to see if any program has enough to take down Div. 4 powerhouse Cathedral. Bourne, after coming up three points short in its quarterfinal matchup last year, has a strong core ready for another step up. Meda has already surpassed 1,000 points; she and senior co-captain McKinley Wenzel both earned South Coast Conference All-Star status last winter. The Canalmen should be a conference frontrunner and a repeat noisemaker in the state tournament.
Framingham
Coach: Kristen Audet-Fucarile
Last season: 14-8, lost in Div. 1 second round to Central Catholic
Players to watch: Grace Hanna, G; Allie Regan, G; Stephie Regan, G
Audet-Fucarile has built Framingham from a program that went 1-19 in 2017-18 to perennial Bay State Conference contender. The Flyers return star guard Allie Regan, who will play in college at Mercy, along with fellow league All-Stars Grace Hanna and Stephie Regan. Framingham came up a possession shy of upsetting Central Catholic in the Div. 1 state tournament last season. The Bay State Conference is deep as always with at least four or five elite teams, but don't discount the Flyers, who could go the farthest in March.
Quincy
Coach: Sarah Conlon
Last season: 18-4, lost in Div. 1 second round to Lexington
Players to watch: Frankie Diaz, G; Alyssa Hopps, F; Rory Kennedy, G
The Presidents are favorites in the Patriot League, but I truly believe they're ready for a major statewide leap after losing by a point to Lexington (another breakout school to watch) last spring. It starts with Hopps, a Babson commit who won league MVP last year. The 5-foot-11 forward is one of the most versatile talents in MIAA, capable of clutch shotmaking and tremendous defensive impact.
Around Hopps, Quincy is loaded with shooters, led by sophomores Kennedy and Diaz. Conlon also labeled senior Niamh Gendron, a 6-foot sharpshooting forward, as a breakout player to watch. This roster has several tough defenders and the ability to light up the 3-point arc. I'm banking on another year together paying huge dividends.
Sandwich
Coach: Mike Barrett
Last season: 21-2, lost in Div. 3 quarterfinals to Norwell
Players to watch: Avery Cobban, G; Madi Lawrence, F; Aubrie Schwager, G
Sandwich laid down one of its best seasons in program history, only losing to Norwell (twice). The Blue Knights return their star senior trio, all South Shore League All-Stars last season, and are real threats to join the top tier of Division 3. Lawrence, a 6-foot forward committed to Assumption, can take over contests as a scorer and rebounder, and she's flanked by two steady guards in Cobban and Schwager.
Whitman-Hanson
Coach: Michael Costa
Last season: 18-5, lost in Div. 2 quarterfinals to Oliver Ames
Players to watch: Dylan Hurley, G; Maliah Pierre, G/F; Taryn Leonard, F
We return to the Patriot League with another conference leader. Whitman-Hanson pulled off a major upset last state tournament, beating fourth-seeded Dartmouth as a No. 13 seed before pushing Oliver Ames to a one-point game in the quarterfinals. Costa's teams are always stingy on defense, and they might have the offensive talent to turn some narrow losses into wins. Hurley is a quick scoring guard, Pierre has made leaps as an individual scorer, and Leonard can be a more forceful inside presence. I think the Panthers could surprise some folks and break through a crowded tier of Div. 2 challengers to Medfield.
