The MIAA basketball season is finally underway. Teams first tipped off on Thursday night, and less than a week in, we've already seen some highlight-reel performances. This is our first week selecting MIAA's 5 girls stars of the week. Coaches and players can submit nominations by emailing Ethan Fuller at ethan.fuller@basketballjournal.com or by messaging him...
The MIAA basketball season is finally underway.
Teams first tipped off on Thursday night, and less than a week in, we've already seen some highlight-reel performances.
This is our first week selecting MIAA's 5 girls stars of the week. 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:
Kat Cheesebro, Dartmouth
Class of 2025, 5-8 guard
The race is on. Cheesebro got her final season of basketball started with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists Friday in a dominant, 81-32 win against Brockton. Then she turned it up a bit more with 37 points Sunday en route to an 81-47 win over Greater New Bedford. Cheesebro is now 340 points from Dartmouth's all-time scoring record (1,840).
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Anna Kanders, Swampscott
Class of 2028, guard
Kanders was crucial in the Big Blue pulling away for a 49-26 win against Gloucester in their season opener on Friday. The freshman drilled four 3-pointers in the second half, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds and six steals.
Mollie Mullen, Bishop Feehan
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
Mullen wasted no time living up to her breakout label. She led the Shamrocks with 28 points and four steals in Friday's season opener, a 79-50 victory against Archbishop Williams. Teammate Maddy Steel also collected 24 points for Bishop Feehan in the win.
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Ava Orlando, Notre Dame (Hingham)
Class of 2025, 5-6 guard
Orlando got her senior year rolling with 34 points, 10 rebounds and five steals as the Cougars rolled to an 82-54 win against Dennis-Yarmouth on Saturday. The Bentley commit is one of the top guards in MIAA and can put up big numbers on a nightly basis. Teammate Effie Giannopoulos was also a major contributor with 28 points and six rebounds.
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Nikki Rao, Newton North
Class of 2026, guard/forward
The Tigers secured one of the biggest wins of the opening week, beating a great Framingham team 62-57. Rao led the way with 30 points.
Other notable performances:Â The sophomore class put up some big numbers this past week. Top 2027 prospect Bella Owumi scored 20 points for St. Mary's to help rout Andover, 73-37. ... Naya Annigeri, another 2027 star, logged 18 points, eight steals and five assists during Medfield's 64-41 win against Medway. ... Sophomore Izzy Almeida totaled 21 points, eight steals, five rebounds and four assists for Mashpee in a 51-25 win over Nantucket.
