FOXBORO, Mass. — Foxboro's Warrior Classic is one of the smaller mini-tournaments that take place during February vacation. But the girls championship game between fifth-ranked Worcester South and No. 10 Foxboro was worth the trip for multiple high school coaches looking to get in a final scout before the postseason.
They were treated to an physical, high-intensity matchup between South, looking to prove it belongs with the Div. 1 contenders, and Div. 2 Foxboro, who had surpassed all expectations with a perfect season — to that point. Worcester South held Foxboro to just 13 points in the first half, then withstood a Warrior comeback attempt to win, 40-38.
The Warriors (19-1) scored just three second-quarter points, and then South (17-3) managed just five in the fourth quarter. Foxboro had multiple chances to go ahead or tie the game in the final minute but couldn't get a shot to fall. The Colonels end their regular season with 16 wins in their last 17 contests, carrying momentum into the playoffs as a probably top-five seed.
Here are five standouts from the matchup.
Stef Kyriazis, Worcester South
Class of 2028, 5-5 guard
Kyriazis led the Colonels with 12 points largely from her second-quarter firestorm that included three 3-pointers. One was an impressive stepback make, one came behind a pindown screen on a baseline out-of-bounds play, and the third came when Kyriazis lulled her defender to sleep before pulling up quickly. She has a solid handle and changes pace quickly off the dribble. In this defensive slugfest, Kyriazis was the only player who consistently created advantages with the ball.
Madi Leighton, Worcester South
Class of 2026, 5-10 forward
Leighton is the go-to shooter on South and they clearly looked to get her involved with designed 3-point looks. She made the first shot of the afternoon from the corner and had two 3s by the second quarter before falling hard on her knee and briefly exiting. Leighton did return in the second half, and though she didn't hit another from distance, she did convert all three free throws after being fouled behind the arc. Leighton finished with nine points.
Gianah Estevez, Worcester South
Class of 2026, 5-7 guard
Estevez won MVP of the Warrior Classic behind her 12 points in the first-round victory over Wellesley. She had a tougher matchup in this one against lockdown Foxboro defender Kylie Sampson. Estevez still managed six points and occasionally got free for pull-up jumpers. She was also one of many impactful defenders across the lineup, walling up her on-ball matchups and picking up steals in the passing lanes.
Rhianna Rice, Foxboro
I am super intrigued by Rice, who looks like a future torch-bearer for the Foxboro program. She collected a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double and consistently put in effort defending the paint and crashing the boards. Rice made good passes out of the high post, and in the second half, she was more confident turning and driving past defenders. Her length, natural athleticism and base effort give her a winning impact now with a lot of room to grow in the coming years.
Adrianna Porazzo, Foxboro
NCAA: Western New England
Porazzo's 12 points included three treys, and her seven-point third quarter helped Foxboro claw back into the game. I was interested to see how she'd fare against South's imposing guard defenders. Porazzo didn't drive quite as much, but she made smart plays in the pick-and-roll, including two assists to Rice for layups. She was also active moving without the basketball and got some open 3-point looks just by constantly relocating around the perimeter.
