The holiday break was a necessary reminder — albeit somewhat humbling — that there's a lot of good basketball outside of Massachusetts.
Several of our top MIAA girls teams squared off with schools outside the state. While they were largely successful, most squads got served an L at some point during their travels.
Meanwhile, we also were treated to a bunch of significant head-to-head matchups in local holiday tournaments. That's resulted in one new team joining our rankings for the first time this season.
Let's get the new year started with a new update.
1. Bishop Feehan (5-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: at Needham, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
The Shamrocks were put to the test this past weekend in the Londonderry Girls Holiday Tournament. They went 2-1, including a 64-62 overtime win against Londonderry (N.H.) led by a career-high 16 points from sophomore Shannon LaMorticelli. But Feehan couldn't take down New Hampshire powerhouse Bedford, losing to the Bulldogs for the second straight year in a back-and-forth, 61-49 game.
2. Foxboro (4-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: at Oliver Ames, Jan. 3, 6:00 p.m.
The Warriors only played one game in the last week, rolling over Wellesley, 67-27 on Dec. 27. Kailey Sullivan drained six 3s in that contest en route to 26 points, and Adrianna Porazzo logged 16 points. The next matchup with Oliver Ames should be fun as Sullivan and Tigers star Avery Gamble, two of the best guards in the MIAA, go head to head.
3. Medfield (5-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: at Millis, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
The Warriors competed in the KSA Tournament in Orlando, Fla. over the holidays. They finished third in their eight-team bracket and went 2-1, losing in the semifinals to bracket champion Potomac (Va.), 67-55. Medfield gets into the heart of its Tri-Valley League schedule next, and after already defeating Medway, the Warriors should be confident that they can excel in-league.
4. St. Mary’s (6-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: vs. Cardinal Spellman, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Head coach Jeff Newhall secured his 400th career victory Tuesday when the Spartans beat Mansfield at home, 69-52. That capped a 3-0 week for the Spartans that also saw them win the Edmund Murphy Winter Classic at Dracut. Bella Owumi was named tournament MVP (and was one of our 5 Stars of the Week) for her dominance.
5. Cathedral (3-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: vs. Arlington Catholic, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m.
The Panthers were a very rare team that did not play at all in the past week. They'll be extra rested for the stretch run of January.
6. Woburn (5-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: at Winchester, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m.
The Tanners rolled to a championship in the Garden City Classic at Newton North, taking down Millbury and Newton South each by at least 20 points. Senior center Shannon McCarthy scored 11 points in the title game and earned tournament MVP. Woburn gets back to Middlesex League play to start 2025; it has not lost a league game in more than three years.
7. Norwell (4-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: at Rockland, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m.
In the same KSA Tournament bracket as Medfield, Norwell also went 2-1. The Clippers dropped their first Florida game to eventual runner-up Brecksville-Broadview (Ohio) but rebounded to finish fifth in the pool. Star forward Maddie Oliver averaged 15.7 points during the trip.
8. Central Catholic (4-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: vs. North Andover, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m.
I wondered how the Raiders would fare in a strong Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic field having played just one game prior to break. They made a statement by winning three games and the championship, highlighted by a gritty, 43-32 triumph against Bridgewater-Raynham in the final. North Andover (4-2) should be another quality test as the Raiders gear up for more Merrimack Valley Conference matchups.
9. Quincy (5-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Scituate, Jan. 3, 6:00 p.m.
A new member! For the first time this season, Quincy joins the rankings and replaces Notre Dame (Hingham) after beating the Cougars, 67-49, at home Saturday. The Presidents have an anchor in senior Alyssa Hopps, plus a bunch of shooters and scrappy defenders around her. This is a fun offense that has scored at least 60 points in four of five games so far.
10. Springfield Central (1-2)
Previous ranking: 10
Next game: vs. Pittsfield, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m.
After losing its first two games out of state, the Golden Eagles reminded us of their in-state success by cruising past a strong Northampton team, 57-42. They've got a surprise star to watch in freshman Gia Mars, who scored 24 points in the victory.
On the radar:Â Notre Dame (Hingham), Dartmouth, Wachusett, Bridgewater-Raynham, North Quincy
