Every year, the Catholic Central League provides some of the best top-level basketball in the MIAA.
Since the statewide tournament began, Bishop Feehan, St. Mary's and Cathedral have combined for seven state championships. That doesn't include Bishop Fenwick, who routinely competes for titles. When the schools go head-to-head in the regular season, they almost always provide fireworks.
We saw some important CCL matchups this past week that clarified the conference hierarchy. And there are more coming up in the next two weeks. Also in this week's ranking updates, one undefeated school that's been on the cusp joins for the first time this season.
Here's our latest MIAA girls Top 10.
1. Medfield (16-0)
Next game: at Dover-Sherborn, Feb. 3, 5 p.m.
To no one's surprise, the Warriors tacked on two more Tri-Valley League wins by 35-plus points apiece against Westwood and Norton. They only have two more games before the Board 27 Comcast Tournament: one this week against Dover-Sherborn and one next week against Medway. The TVL rampage continues.
2. Springfield Central (11-2)
Next game: at Minnechaug, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.
The Golden Eagles powered past two good Western Mass. opponents, beating South Hadley and Northampton each by 25-plus points. We saw Giavanna Mars (22 points) take command against South Hadley and Zi'Yan Wallace (20 points) lead against Northampton, with Maya Ocana Saunders averaging 15 points across both victories. Minnechaug is the best comparison we'll get in the aggregate between Springfield Central and Wachusett, who lost at Minnechaug a couple of weeks ago.
3. Wachusett (11-2)
Next game: at Leominster, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.
The Mountaineers used a 20-2 third quarter to blow open Thursday's meeting with Natick before gliding past Shrewsbury on Friday. They have three contests on tap this week, including a big matchup with Bedford, our top-ranked New Hampshire team. Bedford lost by a point to Bishop Feehan and got routed by Medfield, so we'll see where Wachusett stacks up in relation.
4. Whitman-Hanson (14-1)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Plymouth North, Feb. 3, 5 p.m.
The Panthers have checked off just about every top Patriot League opponent at this point. They added convincing wins against Hanover and Silver Lake last week and have only four league games left. That'll include rematches with Duxbury and Hingham starting a week from Tuesday, but they should keep winning before then.
5. Worcester South (12-2)
Next game: vs. Northbridge, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Make that 11 straight wins for the Colonels, who cruised past Sutton, Hopedale and Newton South each by 22 or more points. Senior Gianah Estevez has emerged as the go-to scorer in recent weeks, averaging 20.3 points across the three victories. South should have two more wins in the bag this week against Northbridge and Millbury.
6. Bishop Feehan (13-2)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at St. Mary's, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
It took a determined comeback effort, but the Shamrocks willed themselves to a 57-53 overtime triumph against St. Mary's on Wednesday. Junior guard Avery Teixeira has emerged as a real core impact player and posted a career-high 19 points in the victory. Feehan then gutted out a 54-45 road win against Division 3 contender Cathedral. But the turnaround offers no break, as the St. Mary's rematch in Lynn occurs less than a week from the first meeting.
7. St. Mary’s (14-2)
Next game: vs. Bishop Feehan, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
This was a super impressive 2-1 week (and very nearly a 3-0 week) from the Spartans. They took down Arlington Catholic first, then had that dramatic road loss against Bishop Feehan where they led most of the way. But then Friday, St. Mary's bounced back big-time with a 70-60 win over Catholic Central League rival Bishop Fenwick. Freshman SySy Mcausland Emmanuel logged the breakout performance of her young career with 30 points. Tuesday's Feehan rematch represents the toughest game left on the Spartans' schedule.
8. Bishop Fenwick (10-3)
Next game: at Billerica, Feb. 2, 7 p.m.
Star guard Celia Neilson crossed 1,000 points this week in the Crusaders' only matchup, but it came in that Friday loss to St. Mary's. The 70-60 result was a very different script from Fenwick's 55-46 win back on Jan. 7. Bishop Fenwick hit a 2-3 rough patch in perhaps the hardest part of its schedule, but the team gets a chance to regroup with games against Billerica and Archbishop Williams this week.
9. Walpole (10-3)
Next game: vs. Westwood, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.
There's only one school left standing in our Top 10 from the Bay State Conference as the top teams in this competitive league continue to wage war on each other. Walpole keeps erasing doubt after winning a fantastic 44-42 contest against Braintree. The Timberwolves' lone conference blemish is an overtime loss to Needham on Dec. 23. They play three times this week but should be able to nab three more wins.
10. Foxboro (13-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Oliver Ames, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
It's finally time to put undefeated Foxboro on the board. The Warriors have won 11 of 13 games by double digits in a Hockomock League that's a bit deeper than I anticipated. They have a bunch of guard scoring options in sisters Adrianna and Gia Porazzo, plus junior Alaysia Drummonds. I've also noticed freshman Rhianna Rice upping her impact lately. A road matchup at Oliver Ames presents a solid challenge, and then I'm next looking forward to a rematch with Mansfield (who lost by two last time) on Feb. 10.
The next five: Woburn, Needham, Natick, Pittsfield, Braintree
Woburn, now 14-0, closely trails Foxboro as another undefeated team that has only played two opponents outside of the Middlesex League. Needham's surprise loss to Milton drops the Rockets from the rankings, where it joins Bay State Conference rivals Natick and Braintree as hungry to return. Pittsfield (10-4), sitting second in Friday's MIAA Division 3 power rankings, is interesting. The Generals have played Springfield Central closer than any other team so far with losses by two and eight points, and they also just split two games with Minnechaug. They've been knocking on the door of a Div. 3 title appearance for multiple years.
