The best MIAA girls basketball teams often don't run into each other until the state championships — or, if they're in different divisions, at all. Sometimes the best we can do to distinguish between them is look at results against common foes.
That's the case with our top three schools. Bishop Feehan, Medfield and Wachusett have all tested themselves against New Hampshire powerhouse Londonderry. Only one has emerged victorious — and it means we have a new team leading the Top 10. Fortunately, we'll see those three titans duke it out at the Comcast Tournament in February before the MIAA postseason.
Elsewhere in the rankings, we have a new school making its season debut after winning a marquee holiday tournament.
Here's the latest look at our Top 10. Expect these rankings to update regularly on Monday going forward.
GEARING UP:Â 10 games to watch in 2026 | 12 stars from winter break
1. Medfield (5-0)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: vs. Norwood, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Medfield's Londonderry Holiday Classic meeting with host Londonderry is technically a scrimmage because the Warriors would otherwise exceed their 20 allotted regular season games. But this was played with the intensity of a clash between perhaps the top two girls programs in New England, and I'm weighing it as such.
The Warriors grinded out a 58-45 win against the Lancers as part of a statement 3-0 sweep of their showcase games. They also dismantled a Bedford (N.H.) team that had won 51 consecutive games, 62-29. I quite frankly thought Medfield would lose to both. But the Warriors' iconic press, zone defense, commitment to rebounding above their size and general hot shooting was stunning. Abby Broderick has taken a serious sophomore leap, Naya Annigeri is deflecting everything and even lesser-known players like Kameli Annigeri and Paige Henebry are stepping up. These Warriors somehow look better than the squad that ended as our No. 1 team last season.
2. Wachusett (4-1)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: at Shrewsbury, Jan. 6, 6 p.m.
Wachusett drops solely because it could not overcome the same Londonderry squad when they faced off back on Dec. 20. As far as winter break goes, this was a quiet one for the Mountaineers, who had more than two weeks off before defeating Westford on Sunday. They'll dig into some more Central Mass. opponents this week in Shrewsbury and Leominster.
3. Bishop Feehan (6-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Worcester South, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m.
The Shamrocks similarly fell to Londonderry at the Lancers' Holiday Classic. They went scoreless in the first quarter and rallied in a competitive, 41-34 loss, then rebounded with a victory over Bishop Guertin (N.H.) the next day and also added a win over Arlington Catholic on Friday. Monday's Worcester South matchup should carry some extra energy after the Colonels nearly defeated Bishop Feehan in Attleboro last year. It took a Maddy Steel buzzer-beater for the Shamrocks to end on top, 47-44.
4. Springfield Central (4-1)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: at South Hadley, Jan. 6, 7 p.m.
I hope you joined me on the Zi'Yan Wallace train! The freshman has scored 14 and 18 points in the last two MIAA games, the most recent helping the Golden Eagles take down Northampton, 57-45. On Saturday, she scored 16 points and crossed 1,000 career points (already?!) in a 72-33 win against Thrive Charter (N.J.). As I mentioned in our games to watch, Springfield Central has made about the toughest schedule it could out of Central and Western Mass. opponents. That starts with a South Hadley squad that is way better than its 1-3 record shows, and it continues Thursday against undefeated Minnechaug.
5. Whitman-Hanson (3-1)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Plymouth North, Jan. 6, 5 p.m.
The Panthers traveled to California for winter break, where they lost by a point to Immanuel in the SoCal Classic. They came back and nabbed a 47-38 win against Silver Lake on Saturday, led by 17 points from Maliah Pierre and 11 from Leah Daley. This week sneaks in three opponents with Plymouth North Tuesday, Fontbonne Thursday and Marshfield on Friday. That's all leading up to next Monday's big road matchup with North Quincy.
6. Bishop Fenwick (5-0)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: vs. St. Mary's, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
The Crusaders captured the Sue Rivard tournament championship with a 40-39 victory over Walpole. Celia Neilson teased a quadruple-double (9 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds, 10 steals) and won tournament MVP honors. Fenwick doesn't win many games pretty — their last three victories have come without clearing 50 points — but they're wins nonetheless with a tough-nosed defensive style. We'll see how it holds up in Wednesday's exciting matchup against St. Mary's.
7. North Quincy (4-0)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: at Hanover, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
The Raiders only played one game over break but added a quality victory at Norwell, 51-40. Nora Geary led with 16 points and has become another go-to scorer on a balanced team with (at least) four capable lead playmakers. After Hanover, North Quincy hosts the first rivalry clash of the season with Quincy and then gears up for that Monday Whitman-Hanson game.
8. St. Mary’s (7-0)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: at Bishop Fenwick, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
The Spartans really packed in their winter vacation action, going 4-0 against Tyngsboro, Dracut, Mansfield and Archbishop Williams. The last opponent in particular is St. Mary's toughest of the season so far, and the Bishops' size should help prepare them for Wednesday's game at Bishop Fenwick. Freshman guard SySy Mcausland Emmanuel is averaging 18.7 points across the last three games.
9. Needham (5-0)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: vs. Pembroke, Jan. 5, 6 p.m.
Hannah Levine's 19 points and five steals powered the Rockets to victory in their lone holiday break game, a 52-36 result against Westwood. Needham has allowed just 43 opposing points per game amid a fairly challenging schedule that keeps up with a Monday contest against Pembroke, a projected Division 3 contender. Tuesday's game against Newton North should also be close; the Tigers have nearly beaten some of the Bay State Conference's top teams.
10. Natick (7-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Milton, Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m.
The Redhawks keep passing every test. They triumphed in the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic, taking down Central Catholic and Pentucket before beating Andover in the championship game. Sophomore Kayla Dunlap spearheaded the undefeated start and won tournament MVP honors. Junior Denai Williams also had herself a strong winter break (including 11 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game) and appears to be a breakout contributor. Natick should handle Milton, but I'm super excited by Friday's rivalry matchup with Braintree.
The next five: Woburn, Minnechaug, Norwood, Foxboro, Archbishop Williams
Cathedral falls out after an upset loss to Brookline in the Cambridge Legends Classic. We have a few teams just outside the Top 10 who are undefeated that I'd like to see face stronger opponents. Woburn, Minnechaug and Norwood pace that group. I'd also keep an eye on Duxbury and Foxboro, with Foxboro recently blowing out Oliver Ames. The Warriors, even after graduating significant talent, still seem on top of the Hockomock League.
