We're approaching the on ramp to the MIAA basketball postseason.
February vacation provides some of the best non-state-tournament basketball you'll see all winter. On the girls side, marquee showcases like the Comcast Tournament and Spartan Classic will pit some of the state's best programs against each other. Eight of our Top 10 members will compete either at those two tournaments or the Warrior Classic in Foxboro.
Because of the atypical scheduling, this will be the last Top 10 update until the Friday before postseason brackets get released. We're recapping the past week, which included several upset results around the state, and also looking ahead to the big matchups remaining during the next two weeks. Next time we check in on the MIAA, it will be state tournament time.
Here's our latest Top 10 rankings.
1. Medfield (17-0)
Next game: vs. Medway, Feb. 12, 6 p.m.
So here's where things get interesting. Medfield sits fifth in the MIAA Division 2 power rankings release last Friday. That means it's currently projected to have to travel to Minnechaug for a possible quarterfinal matchup — and as you will find out shortly, Minnechaug is terrifying at home. There's no significant difference between seeds 1-4 in the state tournament beyond matchups, but losing that home quarterfinal game could be a big deal. Even though Medfield continues to crush its opponents, the Tri-Valley League on the whole has been relatively mid-pack, so strength of schedule actually bogs the Warriors down.
The Board 27 Comcast Tournament will help with two high-level games against North Quincy — a rematch of last year's Div. 2 semifinal — and either Wachusett or Bishop Feehan. But this is a notable subplot to monitor in the final two weeks.
2. Wachusett (13-2)
Next game: at Grafton, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.
Wachusett's matchup with Bedford (N.H.) was postponed due to Saturday's snowstorm. Otherwise, the Mountaineers continued coasting by their Central Mass. opponents with dominant wins against Leominster and Nashoba. We haven't seen them play any of the Division 1 frontrunners yet this season, but that's going to change at the Board 27 Comcast Tournament. Wachusett faces Bishop Feehan to open its bracket play in a rematch of last year's state championship all-time classic. Then there's a chance it meets Medfield in the bracket championship.
3. Springfield Central (12-4)
Next game: vs. Worcester South, Feb. 10, 7 p.m.
Another Div. 1 powerhouse fell to Minnechaug at home. Springfield Central lose, 48-40, in its lowest-scoring game of the year against an MIAA opponent. That snapped a perfect season in-state and gave us a reminder that no one is untouchable in Division 1. I'm excited for Tuesday's matchup against Worcester South. This will likely be the best defense the Golden Eagles face all season — can forwards like Zi'Yan Wallace and Genesis Grimes win with size and strength? Wallace, by the way, picked up a Division 1 college offer from UMass last week.
4. Whitman-Hanson (16-1)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: at Duxbury, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Unsurprisingly, the Panthers rolled through Plymouth North and Marshfield with respective wins by 30 and 29 points. They've held opponents to 40 points or fewer in each of the last seven contests (and 13 of 17 on the season). This week, Whitman-Hanson looks to finish an unbeaten Patriot League schedule against two quality opponents in Duxbury and Hingham. Then it's on to the Spartan Classic, one of the largest girls tournaments during February break. Whitman-Hanson will face King Philip and either Oliver Ames or Pentucket.
5. Worcester South (14-2)
Next game: at Springfield Central, Feb. 10, 7 p.m.
Speaking of elite defenses, South has held opponents to 43 points or less throughout its 13-game win streak. Northbridge and Millbury were the latest to succumb to the Colonels' lockdown unit. They've had a pretty light schedule for most of this season, and the upcoming challenge at Springfield Central is a big measuring stick for where both teams reside in the Division 1 title hunt. Another big-time matchup: a likely Feb. 17 meeting with undefeated Foxboro in the championship game of the hosts' Warrior Classic.
6. St. Mary’s (16-2)
Next game: vs. Norwell, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.
The last 10 days have been a loud announcement that the young Spartans are ready to contend with the best. After beating Bishop Fenwick, they returned home and demolished a rematch with Bishop Feehan, 62-35. They also added another Catholic Central League victory against a solid Arlington Catholic team. Freshman Sysy Mcausland Emmanuel continued her strong second half by averaging 18.5 points in those wins. St. Mary's has won nine of its last 10 games with a lone overtime loss to Bishop Feehan. The hosts of the Spartan Classic, they'll play Dartmouth followed by either Andover or Newton North.
7. Bishop Feehan (14-3)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: vs. Bishop Fenwick, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Shamrocks fell flat in the road rematch at St. Mary's. Their 35 points represented only the third time they've failed to clear 45 in a game. And their gauntlet of a schedule doesn't let up with another rematch coming against Bishop Fenwick. Then there's another highly-anticipated rematch of the last two Division 1 championship games on Saturday, with Feehan starting its Board 27 Comcast Tournament run against Wachusett. Win that, and the Shamrocks may get Medfield on Monday. Whew.
8. Minnechaug (14-3)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Belchertown Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m.
Just when I was somewhat over Minnechaug, the Falcons scored another head-turning win by beating Springfield Central at home, 48-40. They're now the only MIAA team to take down either of my top two Division 1 frontrunners — and the Falcons beat Wachusett too. Minnechaug has split with Springfield Central and Pittsfield and only has one loss at home. This is the wild card team in the Div. 2 championship race and it should have mostly smooth sailing until the playoffs.
9. Walpole (13-3)
Next game: vs. Needham, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Timberwolves are 10-1 in 2026 with a lone two-point defeat at Bishop Feehan. But their schedule ends on a tough uphill climb. They'll host Needham in a pivotal Bay State Conference rematch; the Rockets won in overtime back on Dec. 23. Then Thursday, Walpole travels to Natick for the lone matchup against another conference leader. Then, they open the Board 27 Comcast Tournament against Cathedral and play the either Braintree or Woburn in the following bracket game. We're going to learn a lot about where this team stands, both in its own league and as a state championship contender.
10. Foxboro (16-0)
Next game: vs. Mansfield, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Warriors cruised past three Hockomock League opponents last week and can taste a perfect regular season. But it won't come easy. This week's opponents, Mansfield and North Attleboro, represent two of the better teams in their league. Then, as mentioned, Foxboro will probably face Worcester South in the Warriors Classic championship game Feb. 17. South's guards and defense will be a particularly tricky puzzle for the Warriors, who are similarly guard-oriented with Adrianna Porazzo and Alaysia Drummonds.
The next five-plus: Bishop Fenwick, Pittsfield, Billerica, Andover, Woburn, Rest of the BSC
This might be a harsh fall for Bishop Fenwick, who I still consider the championship favorite in Division 3. But the Crusaders' loss to Billerica is a relative surprise that added to a three-game skid, though they bounced back by beating Cathedral and Archbishop Williams. Meanwhile, Billerica is 14-2 and riding an eight-game win streak. They also lost to Andover (15-1) by 16 on Jan. 13. Have I been underrating the Merrimack Valley Conference? Andover is a projected No. 6 seed in Division 1, and Billerica No. 8, as of Friday's power rankings release.
The Bay State Conference remains up in the air. Braintree evened the series score against Needham and Natick lost to 7-9 Newton North.
