Have we found a solid Top 10 in MIAA girls basketball?
This is the first time in several weeks that no new teams join the rankings. As most schools stay in their lanes with conference games, the best of the best are proving they can power through their in-league rivals.
Across the current Top 10, only five total losses have come to in-state opponents. Three of them include our Catholic Central League representatives beating each other head-to-head.
Seven of the 10 schools have not lost a conference game. That includes Woburn and Norwell, who move up this week as they continue to reign over the Middlesex and South Shore leagues.
February is about to test several schools. Here's where things currently stand.
1. Bishop Feehan (12-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: at Bishop Fenwick, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
The Shamrocks made a serious statement Friday with a 76-48 rout against Cathedral. They dominated without Brown-bound point guard Charlotte Adams-Lopez, who has been out the last four games (expected to return soon), and were led by Maddy Steel (18 points) and Mollie Mullen (14 points, 9 rebounds). It says a lot about the depth Feehan has cultivated this season; Sam Carlson has now filled in admirably at the point.
One important note: Bishop Feehan's loss Dec. 30 to Bedford (N.H.) was an MIAA endowment game, which means it does not count towards the power rankings or state tournament record for seeding. I am including endowment games in records here; that's just to answer any questions about why there's a discrepancy.
2. Medfield (11-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: at Holliston, Jan. 28, 6:00 p.m.
Hopkinton (Div. 1) and Dedham (Div. 3) are top-10 seeds in their divisions as of Friday's MIAA power rankings update. Medfield beat them 69-34 and 75-14 this week, respectively. Led by Naya Annigeri's sophomore ascension, (17 points vs. Hopkinton and 23 vs. Dedham), the Warriors are frankly steamrolling a very good Tri-Valley League. They do get a solid test Friday on the road against Medway, the current top seed in Div. 3.
3. St. Mary’s (12-2)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: vs. Wakefield, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.
The Spartans only had one game last week but got the job done in a 48-35 matchup against a tough Bishop Fenwick team. We're continuing to see flashes from eighth-grade guard SySy Mcausland Emmanuel, who scored 15 points in the win. St. Mary's gets three games this week, highlighted by a Saturday night face-off I'm excited about against Dartmouth.
4. Woburn (12-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: at Reading, Jan. 28, 7:00 p.m.
Shannon McCarthy logged another stellar week, averaging 21 points in two wins for the Tanners as they continue to breeze through Middlesex League play. Tuesday's road game at Reading (9-3) should be a fun one; Molly Trahan has been lighting up the floor for the Rockets. But Woburn just put up 80 points in Friday's 80-56 victory against Reading, showing they're capable of putting up points as a team.
5. Norwell (11-1)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: at Mashpee, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
The Clippers' streak of wins — and opponents held under 40 points — is up to nine games. Monday's 42-32 rock-fight victory against Pembroke is part that run and the most notable win to date. It's hard to picture another South Shore League team beating Norwell during the remainder of its regular season schedule.
6. Foxboro (11-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: at Milford, Jan. 29, 6:00 p.m.
Kailey Sullivan has scored 22 or more points in seven straight contests, all Warrior victories. Foxboro has won every game by 23 or more points during that span, torching the Hockomock League since its lone loss to Oliver Ames. I expect that to continue against Milford and Canton this week.
7. Cathedral (9-4)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: at Archbishop Williams, Jan. 27, 6:00 p.m.
Yes, Bishop Feehan is our top-ranked squad and the contest was on the road, but Cathedral's 28-point loss is a bit discouraging. The Panthers were out of that contest by the early second half even with the Shamrocks missing one of their best players. That leads to a drop in these rankings, but Cathedral has three games to bounce back with this week against Archbishop Williams, Belmont and Bishop Fenwick.
8. Wachusett (11-1)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: at Nashoba, Jan. 28, 6:00 p.m.
Teegan Lanpher was the standout of the week for the Mountaineers, breaking through and averaging 21.5 points across wins against Newton North and Leominster. Wachusett gets a good road test Tuesday against Nashoba, a top-10 Division 2 squad in the MIAA power rankings as of Friday.
9. Dartmouth (11-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Next game: vs. Franklin, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.
The schedule's about about to get a lot tougher for Dartmouth. It starts Monday against a Franklin team that has quietly improved to 10-3 and won seven straight. Then Dartmouth hits the road Wednesday against Durfee and Saturday against St. Mary's. That last game marks its first matchup against another Top 10 team this season.
10. Notre Dame Hingham (11-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Next game: vs. Fontbonne, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Since its only loss against Quincy on Dec. 30, the Cougars have rattled off eight straight wins by 20 or more points. Ava Orlando reached 2,000 career points on Friday and Elle Orlando tossed in 30 points last Tuesday. Notre Dame's offense is humming, having scored 67-plus points in every game of the win streak.
On the radar:Â Braintree, Central Catholic, Quincy, North Quincy, Pembroke
I'd go as far as to lock Braintree in as a clear No. 11 at this point. With wins against Quincy, North Quincy and Brookline last week, Braintree's built a strong resume at 12-1 and just needs one of the above teams to stumble. After that it gets tricky with the above four teams all close to equal.
