There's a point during every high school basketball season when upsets turn rankings into a real puzzle. The first week of 2025 has given us such chaos.
Even though most teams only played once (and some not at all) since our last update, the top 10 receives its biggest shuffle of the season to date. Only top-ranked Bishop Feehan stays in its place this week following a string of surprising results. Two new teams crack the list this week, and a defending state champion takes a tumble.
I typically try to lean on head-to-head logic in my rankings as often as I can and use my personal opinions of teams as a secondary deciding factor. But we've already reached a point where head-to-head results creates a pretzel of decisions — so I'll have to make tough choices now and going forward.
Here's this week's rankings update.
1. Bishop Feehan (6-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: vs. Bishop Fenwick, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.
The Shamrocks kept this simple, taking down a solid Needham team on the road Monday, 64-53. Maddy Steel (14 points), Charlotte Adams-Lopez (10 points) and Shannon LaMorticelli (10 points) each reached double figures. Bishop Fenwick's size and physicality should be a good test Thursday in a Catholic Central League clash.
2. Medfield (5-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: at Millis, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Medfield hasn't played since returning from the KSA Tournament in Florida. The Warriors enter Tri-Valley League action next and will have conference games all the way through Feb. 11.
3. St. Mary's (7-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: at Bridgewater-Raynham, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
With a dominant victory against Cardinal Spellman now behind it, St. Mary's can look forward to some tough defensive matchups ahead. Playing on the road against Bridgewater-Raynham won't be easy, and a showdown with Cathedral looms on Jan. 14.
4. Cathedral (5-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: at Leominster, Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m.
The Panthers returned from two weeks off with ease, tallying 67 points in both of the weekend's wins against Arlington Catholic and Brookline. They've met or exceeded that total in all four of their in-state wins so far. Cathedral has games against Leominster and Archbishop Williams next before that big-time matchup with St. Mary's.
5. Woburn (6-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: at Watertown, Jan. 7, 7:00 p.m.
Business remains as usual for the Tanners, who beat Winchester, 74-39, on Friday, even as Mckenna Morrison led with just 13 points in the scorebook. It's hard to picture an upcoming opponent cracking Woburn's defense, which has held every opponent to 45 points or less. Woburn is locked into Middlesex League play until mid-February.
6. Norwell (5-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: vs. East Bridgewater, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Here's another team smothering opponents with defense. Norwell hasn't let an opponent clear 50 points yet except for in its lone loss during the KSA Tournament in Florida. Star forward Maddie Oliver is hitting a groove, most recently collecting 21 points, six rebounds and five steals against Rockland.
7. Central Catholic (5-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: at Billerica, Jan. 7, 7:00 p.m.
The Raiders made a matchup with a quality North Andover team look easy, rolling to a 54-22 win on Friday. They received a strong effort from Lily Phillips (18 points) in that victory, a sign of another potential contributor around Central Catholic's stars. This week looks like smooth sailing on paper, but I'm intrigued by next Monday's nonleague meeting with Notre Dame (Hingham) and its high-powered offense.
8. Wachusett (6-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Shrewsbury, Jan. 7, 6:00 p.m.
The Mountaineers are the first new member for this week. They've won every game so far by at least 13 points, and though Wachusett hasn't been truly tested yet, I'm comfortable slotting this team on the board given its pedigree as a returning Division 1 finalist. Wachusett has star power in Jaelynn Scott, plus rising stars Sophie Gibbons and Teegan Lanpher. Saturday's matchup with regional powerhouse Bedford (N.H.) will be the measuring stick. If the Mountaineers can at least hang with Bedford, they'll be sticking around, but a blowout loss might have to boot them off the top 10.
BEWARE THE BULLDOGS:Â How Bedford became New England's premier public school girls powerhouse
9. Foxboro (4-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: vs. King Philip, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Foxboro's 38-game Hockomock League winning streak came to a stunning end Friday in a 52-48 road loss against Oliver Ames. The two-time defending state champions have looked nearly untouchable during the last two seasons, so the defeat definitely has shock value. But while I'm dropping the Warriors, we shouldn't overreact. They have one of the MIAA's best players in Kailey Sullivan, plus plenty of talent and winning experience around her. Center Addie Ruter has yet to play this season as she recovers from offseason knee surgery, but her imminent return will be a major boost. This could just be a blip on the radar that says more about Oliver Ames' team potential.
10. Dartmouth (6-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Bridgewater-Raynham, Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.
It's tough to gauge Dartmouth right now because of its relatively light schedule to date. But there's no denying Kat Cheesebro's stardom, and she has posted 22 or more points in all six contests, even with every win being a 20-plus-point blowout. I covered Dartmouth's road game at Bridgewater-Raynham last year and it was one of the most chaotic, disjointed high school basketball games I've watched. But Dartmouth still won and Cheesebro poured in 41 points during that contest. A win this season would establish similar legitimacy as a statewide power.
LAST HURRAH:Â Why Cheesebro, now a 1,600-point scorer, won't play in college
On the radar:Â Quincy, Bridgewater-Raynham, Pittsfield, Pembroke, Oliver Ames, Notre Dame (Hingham), Whitman-Hanson
We have to expand the "on the radar" section this week to properly account for all three major upsets. Pittsfield took down Springfield Central, 51-49, on Friday — the first time a Western Mass. team has beaten the Golden Eagles since 2020, per MassLive's Kenneth Manoj. Oliver Ames scored that huge win against Foxboro, though the Tigers also have two losses this season. And Whitman-Hanson gets back in the hunt after handing Quincy its first loss. This doesn't even account for Pembroke, which knocked off unbeatens North Quincy and Duxbury to become the lone undefeated team in the Patriot League.
This all made for some extremely difficult selections — particularly between Wachusett, Dartmouth, Pittsfield and Pembroke, who each have yet to lose. I believe Pittsfield and Pembroke have just a bit more proving to do, but they'll get chances soon. Pittsfield plays defending Division 5 champion Hoosac Valley Thursday, and Pembroke battles Quincy next Tuesday. Wins in those games, plus some hiccups in the top 10, could get them on the list.
