We have at last arrived at the MIAA postseason.
It's been quite a roller coaster to this point, and February vacation only shook things up further. Eight of the 10 teams from last week's rankings lost a game, though that included several matchups against each other. Two unbeaten programs went down.
Though only one new team joins the list, it's a late-season debut — and a massive rise into the top five.
Here's our last look at the best girls programs around the state. Next time we update this list, the state finals will be behind us.
1. Medfield (20-0)
Medfield's 66-55 win against Wachusett at the Board 27 Comcast Tournament stamped the Warriors as the state's top team. As coach Mark Nickerson implied after the game, this was the no-doubt victory that currently overshadows Medfield dominating against middling Tri-Valley League opponents and an unfamiliar nonleague slate.
"There's a lot of people out there saying we're kind of like the Patriots — we haven't played anybody," he said. "They don't know much about our out-of-league opponents. Our strength of schedule, according to the MIAA, is abysmal. So beating a team like Wachusett is a big deal for us."
Even in a stacked Division 2 bracket, the Warriors are the heavy favorites to three-peat as champions.
2. Wachusett (17-3)
Wachusett came up short in a 1-vs.-2 matchup that was much closer than the 66-55 final score indicates. The Mountaineers led 31-25 at the half, but Jae Scott and Sophie Gibbons both battled foul trouble throughout the contest and ultimately fouled out. Wachusett then righted itself with a 59-52 triumph over top-ranked New Hampshire program Bedford on Wednesday. Prior to the Medfield game, they rolled over Bishop Feehan and won by 28 points. The defending Div. 1 champs enter the postseason as still the team to beat.
3. Springfield Central (17-4)
After falling to Minnechaug on Feb. 2, the Golden Eagles got revenge in thrilling fashion, prevailing 50-48 following overtime in the Western Mass. Class A final. It took a career effort to date from freshman sensation Zi'Yan Wallace, who led with 27 points. Springfield Central should hold a comfortable top-four seed when the Div. 1 brackets come out and I would consider them in Wachusett's tier of title frontrunner status.
4. Andover (19-1)
Previous rank: NR
Surprise! The Golden Warriors went undefeated in Merrimack Valley Conference play, but their Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic defeat to Natick way back on Dec. 30 made me a doubter. How things have changed — they managed to beat St. Mary's, 52-41, in Lynn, one of the most difficult road environments you'll find, and capture a championship at the Spartan Classic.
Why such a dramatic jump? Well, that win is quite a statement. Andover also showed off a promising freshman, Lexi Linsey, who missed much of the early part of the season with a broken bone in her hand. She scored 17 points in that Spartan Classic triumph including 10 in the fourth quarter. Plus, Alan Hibino is one of the truly elite coaches in MIAA basketball, having won a state title in 2022-23. I believe I've severely underrated Andover's season so far, so better late than never to get it on this list.
5. Worcester South (17-3)
The Colonels gave up 75 points in a Feb. 10 loss to Springfield Central, the only time they've allowed more than 43 points all season. But after snapping their 13-game win streak, they regrouped with three more. The most impressive was Tuesday's Warrior Classic championship win, where South fended off a comeback attempt from host Foxboro. They enter the Division 1 playoffs as the division's best defense, and it'll be up to the offense to decide how far this team goes.
6. St. Mary’s (19-3)
Next game: vs. Norwell, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.
After seven Spartan Classic championships in a row, the hosts lost in their first tournament to Andover. That was a relative surprise, but it says more about Andover's place in the state hierarchy than St. Mary's. I still expect them to be among the lead challengers to Medfield in the Div. 2 tournament. Seeding will be an important storyline; the Spartans were third in the standings as of the last MIAA power rankings update, but that was before losing to Andover.
7. Bishop Feehan (17-4)
Previous rank: 7
Saturday's Comcast Tournament blowout loss to Wachusett was a harsh reality check. It's going to be a daunting uphill challenge for any team in Division 1 this March, including the Shamrocks, who won't have Addie Frenette due to injury. But Feehan rebounded with a 19-point victory against North Quincy in the consolation game. The Shamrocks should slot in comfortably as a top-four seed in the Div. 1 bracket.
8. Minnechaug (17-4)
The Falcons backed up their Feb. 2 win against Springfield Central by narrowly coming up short in that Western Mass. Class A final defeat. They haven't played an Eastern Mass. opponent all season, which makes them the most interesting unknown in the Division 2 tournament. Seeding will also matter a ton with this group as they hunt a top-four spot and a possible home quarterfinal. Minnechaug was fifth in the power rankings Tuesday morning, but that was before factoring in the Springfield Central game and losses from St. Mary's and Foxboro.
9. Whitman-Hanson (19-2)
Previous rank: 4
Maliah Pierre's 30-point explosion wasn't enough in an upset loss to Oliver Ames during the Spartan Classic. It's the first in-state loss for the Panthers all season and they're still a frontrunner in Division 2. But the defeat speaks to the insane depth of this playoff bracket. As of Tuesday, Whitman-Hanson was seeded first and Oliver Ames ninth, which means they could meet in the quarterfinals.
10. Foxboro (19-1)
Foxboro completed a perfect winter in the Hockomock League, then sputtered against Worcester South's lockdown defense and fell short in a comeback effort at their home Warrior Classic. This team benefits from plenty of winning experience in the backcourt with Adrianna Porazzo and Alaysia Drummonds, and I was impressed by freshman Rhianna Rice as well. They're right on the cusp of a top-four seed in Division 2.
The next five: Bishop Fenwick, Cathedral, Woburn, Oliver Ames, Braintree
Our next two teams outside the Top 10 are my top two Division 3 contenders. Bishop Fenwick scored a notable win against Needham in the Norwell Invitational, and Cathedral is rolling after taking down both Walpole and Woburn by double digits in the Comcast Tournament. That was Woburn's first loss of the season; Woburn also snuck by Braintree by a point. In this week's edition of Bay State Conference merry-go-round, Braintree is back on top after defeating Walpole by 17 points. But those two, Needham and Natick are all neck-and-neck.
