Aside from a couple of marquee matchups, this past week was a breeze for our top 10 NEPSAC girls programs.
Spoiler alert: Nothing changes in this week's rankings. But with some massive holiday matchups coming up — eight of our top 10 squads will participate in the Nickerson Showcase — the hierarchy could look a lot different for our next update.
This is also the last week of matchups before prep schools hit their winter vacations and return to action in 2025.
Here's a check-in on our top 10, previewing what each school has on the schedule during this important upcoming week.
MORE:Â 5 stars of the week in girls prep basketball
1. Tabor (3-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: vs. Tilton, Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m.
The Seawolves have yet to be tested after winning each of their games by 24 or more points. That's about to change when they host Tilton on Wednesday. From there, Tabor ends 2024 with three Nickerson Showcase matchups: two against ranked teams Loomis Chaffee and Wilbraham and Monson, and one against a Worcester Academy squad that has played several top teams close. We'll see if the Seawolves have truly earned this top spot next week.
2. Nobles (4-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: vs. Hoosac, Dec. 20, 12 p.m.
Nobles is battle-tested, most recently fending off Northfield Mount Hermon, 50-42, at home last Wednesday. The Bulldogs get some time off before their three games as hosts of the Nickerson Showcase. They'll open the tournament Friday vs. Hoosac, then face Loomis Chaffee Saturday and New Hampton Sunday.
3. Tilton (5-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: at Tabor, Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m.
The Rams captured the Thomas Blackburn Tournament championship at Worcester Academy this past weekend, defeating Darrow and the host Hilltoppers in two competitive games. They have a gauntlet of an upcoming schedule starting with the Wednesday road game at Tabor. Tilton then has Wilbraham and Monson, Sacred Heart and Northfield Mount Hermon on its Nickerson Showcase plate.
4. Northfield Mount Hermon (5-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: vs. Storm King, Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m.
A narrow, eight-point loss to Nobles shows NMH at least belongs in the conversation of truly elite teams, and it bounced back with wins against Austin Prep and Hamden Hall. At Nickerson, NMH takes on a Class AA rival in Storm King and then two ranked AAA stalwarts in Tilton and New Hampton. A quality weekend could see the team move even further up this ladder.
5. New Hampton (5-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: vs. Worcester Academy, Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m.
After cruising past St. Paul's, New Hampton hit the road for the She Got Game Classic in Washington, D.C., where the Huskies went 3-0. Serenity Lancaster (New London, Conn.) posted two double-doubles in three games, showing she's acclimating well as a star transfer. The Huskies are another Nickerson Showcase attendant with matchups against Worcester Academy, Tilton and Nobles.
6. Loomis Chaffee (3-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: vs. St. Luke's, Dec. 18, 4:30 p.m.
Class A's resident dynasty has steamrolled three teams so far. But the road gets a lot tougher fast. St. Luke's makes the trip for a regular season game Wednesday, and then the Pelicans head east for Nickerson. They're the only team who will play both top-ranked Tabor and second-ranked Nobles, and they'll do it in a 20-hour span (plus face Greenwich Country Day on Sunday).
7. Wilbraham and Monson (7-2)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: vs. Darrow, Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m.
The Titans are in a groove with three straight wins and are 4-1 against five different Class AA opponents. They get another class foe Wednesday in a tough Darrow team on the cusp of our rankings. Then it's off to Nickerson to face Tilton and Tabor, plus defending Class B champion St. George's.
8. Dexter Southfield (3-2)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: vs. PHH Prep, Dec. 18, 9:30 p.m.
Dexter Southfield leaves our time zone for the rest of 2024. The team will compete in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, a four-day event from Dec. 18-21. We'll see if Dexter can build momentum out west after beating Winchendon last week.
9. St. Luke’s (3-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Next game: at Loomis Chaffee, Dec. 18, 4:30 p.m.
Like Loomis Chaffee, St. Luke's is dominant but scarcely tested, which should make for an interested matchup Wednesday. The Storm finish their calendar year in the St. George's Holiday Tournament, facing off against the host Dragons as well as Class B rivals Beaver Country Day and Brooks.
Update: St. Luke's suffered a loss to Ethel Walker in the Rose Classic. This will be reflected in next week's rankings.
10. Rivers (3-1)
Previous ranking:Â 10
Next game: vs. Cushing, Dec. 19, 4:30 p.m.
As far as rest, Rivers' end to the month might be the most difficult. The Red Wings play one game in their home holiday tournament against a quality Cushing team, and then they join the Nickerson field, facing Choate, Greenwich Country Day and Hoosac. That's four games in four days to wrap 2024.
On the radar: Hamden Hall, Berkshire, Darrow, Newman, Greens Farms, Sacred Heart
