With a few team chants and a trophy celebration, Newman briefly rejoiced after winning the NEBL championship on Sunday after a 77-62 victory over Cushing. The title was certainly important, but the Cardinals know it’s just one step of a long journey towards their lofty goals this winter.
“I do think they understand this is a milestone,” coach Jackson Johnson said.
Last season, after capturing the NEPSAC Class AAA title in an epic, emotional overtime game, Newman ran out of gas in the national prep championship tournament, which takes place in the week right after the NEPSAC championships. Johnson didn’t think his group was fully ready to make a run last year. But that’s changed now, and this NEBL championship is an important marker in this year’s pursuit.
Exactly a month from now, Newman will hope to win another AAA championship and then make the quick turnaround for a national prep championship run, which requires four wins in three days. And this week could be something of a test run. The schedule of last week – Wednesday vs. CATS, then the NEBL playoffs on Saturday and Sunday – resembled the NEPSAC playoffs. Now, after winning the NEBL title on Sunday, Newman has to turn around and play St. Thomas More on Tuesday, which would mimic the turnaround from the Class AAA final to their first game of the national prep tournament.
“I don’t know how we’re going to react,” Johnson said. “That's what we’re practicing. If we handle it good or bad, either way, I think it will prepare us because we’ll be able to teach from it.”
Newman stayed at No. 1 in our NEPSAC power rankings, a perch it hasn’t left all winter, ahead of a challenging week of games across the league as playoff races really heat up. Here’s the latest Top 10.
1. Newman (22-3)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. St. Thomas More, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.
While Lucas Morillo won MVP of the NEBL championship and Louis O’Keefe kept impressing as a floor general with nine assists, it was Newman’s defense that was the difference-maker in its title win over Cushing. Johnson thought it was the Cardinals’ most complete and detailed performance on that end this season. Jaylen Hunter-Coleman (Boston, Mass.) might have been the biggest driver of that effort; his elite on-ball defense netted two steals, contributed to more turnovers and disrupted Cushing’s backcourt. Newman’s depth won out, with everyone contributing up and down the roster, including Jordan Smith and William Meribe off the bench.
2. Cushing (18-5)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: vs. St. Andrew’s, Feb. 11, 4 p.m.
The Penguins continue to be shorthanded, this time without 2027 wing Elliot Erickson (Gardner, Mass.), who was seen in a boot over the weekend. But this group doesn’t make excuses. While Ryan Moesch was brilliant – 31 points in Cushing’s NEBL semifinal win over Putnam Science – others like Brady O’Connell (Bedford, N.H.), with 10 rebounds and four assists, and Anthony Vick (Boston, Mass.), with three 3-pointers, stepped up in a big way for the signature win over the defending prep national champions. Despite the loss Sunday, Cushing showed it should once again be a factor come March in the national prep tournament.
3. Vermont Academy (13-11)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Proctor, Feb. 13, 4 p.m.
The Wildcats dropped an overtime heartbreaker to Brewster Academy EYBL last Tuesday at home, where they were a bounce or two away in the final minutes from notching the win. Given that emotional energy expended, it wasn’t a blemish that they suffered a road loss to Hoosac the next day in a brutal turnaround of less than 24 hours. VA should be refreshed for the home stretch after a nine-day layoff, which included a weekend off that allowed players to make a brief visit home.
4. St. Thomas More (21-6)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Newman, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.
The loss of Greyson Pierce (West Hartford, Conn.) to injury hasn’t caught up to the Chancellors yet, but a difficult three-game stretch this week that starts at Newman on Tuesday will be a big test. They have their annual game against Darrow on Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires in Pittsfield, Mass., before a road date with New Hampton.
5. Cheshire (16-2)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: vs. St. Luke’s, Feb. 11, 4:30 p.m.
Aided by other results, the Cats have separated themselves as the No. 2 team in Class AA – as of now – during their nine-game winning streak. That includes a 70-66 win over MacDuffie as Trinity commit John Spinoso notched 13 assists. They’re now 10-2 in Class A games, and they should be excited for a big opportunity at home against Cushing this Friday night.
6. New Hampton (14-12)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: vs. St. Paul’s, Feb. 11, 4 p.m.
Even in a 1-2 week, I thought New Hampton showed its promise in a dominant home win over Bridgton before nearly toppling Putnam Science in the NEBL third-place game on Sunday. The Huskies led for most of the game and by as many as 13 before Putnam went on a dominant late run in the final minutes to win it, 90-83. Stetson Merritt impressed throughout the week, which included 16 points and four 3-pointers in the victory over Bridgton and 14 points and four assists vs. Putnam Science. A tough home back-to-back looms Friday and Saturday against Newman and St. Thomas More, but New Hampton shouldn’t overlook St. Paul’s, which has a win over Vermont Academy this season.
7. Darrow (11-13)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: vs. St. Thomas More, Feb. 12, 4 p.m.
The Ducks played just one game last week, an 84-73 win over CATS Academy National on Sunday in an NEBL consolation matchup. Point guard Haisi Mayben, in my opinion, continued to show why he’s a Division 1-caliber point guard, posting 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds with just two turnovers as he controlled the game.
8. Bridgton (13-10)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: vs. CATS Academy, Feb. 11, 4 p.m.
When I moved Bridgton to No. 3 last week, I noted that I wanted to see the Wolverines carry their success to the road. Last week was a bit of a reality check, and further confirmation that Class AAA road games are so hard. Bridgton lost three AAA road games last week to New Hampton, South Kent and Hoosac. The journey doesn’t get easier, either, with road tests at Vermont Academy and Darrow on back-to-back days this Saturday and Sunday.
9. St. George’s (18-3)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: vs. BB&N, Feb. 11, 4 p.m.
The Dragons suffered a rare slip-up in a 71-69 road loss Monday night to Brimmer & May, which is a better team than its record may indicate. But the ISL frontrunners are continuing to roll otherwise. St. George’s held Nobles to 18 second-half points in a strong road win before erupting offensively in a 99-73 rivalry home win over St. Andrew’s – which included 52 first-half points – in a fun prep basketball environment. Dragons coach Dwayne Pina likes how his team is finding different ways to win games.
10. Winchendon (16-6)
Previous rank: 10
Next game: vs. Wilbraham & Monson, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.
The Wapiti completed impressive season sweeps of Worcester and MacDuffie last week. If the season ended today, they would be a top-four seed in the Class AA playoffs. But they know a lot of work is left to be done to get there.
The next five: Lawrence Academy, MacDuffie, Kimball Union, Phillips Andover, Deerfield
