In its first year as a new NEPSAC division, Class B Small is merging the best of NEPSAC girls basketball's old Class C with some other quality programs formerly in Class B.
We've seen that play out in the postseason bracket. Hamden Hall and Kimball Union, who squared off in last winter's Class C title game, are frontrunners to meet again. Ethel Walker, previously a competitive Class B program, has put its name in the running as well.
Behind those schools are some interesting sleepers led by a few dangerous individual stars.
Let's meet the field for this inaugural Class B Small bracket.
MORE BRACKET BREAKDOWNS:Â Class AAA | Class AA | Class A | Class B Large
1. Kimball Union (17-5)
Record against Class B Small field: 5-1
Last year's Class C runner-up, KUA has largely excelled in the new Class B Small. The Wildcats beat B Large contender Brooks to open the season and bookended it with a win against Berkshire. They also scored a statement win against Ethel Walker on Jan. 10. They've got Nyasia Caban (Lawrence, Mass.), last winter's NEPSGBCA Class C Player of the Year, back as a flashy 2027 scoring guard. I think Sophie Dupeyron is an underrated 2028 prospect, and both Leila Portugal and Jordynn Elijah are plus defenders.. Kimball Union has had some slip-ups against Hamden Hall and Brewster, but on the whole, I like this core to lead a postseason run.
BRACKET TRACKERS: Class AAA |Â Class AAÂ |Â Class AÂ |Â Class B Large, B Small, C
2. Ethel Walker (17-6)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 4-3
Walker's won its first nine games of the season before falling to Kimball Union. They have a dynamic uncommitted 2026 guard in Liana Salamone (East Hampton, Conn.), one of a few exciting bucket-getters in this bracket. Also keep an eye on small freshman guard Ashley Fontanella (Higganum, Conn.). Walker's stumbled against Kingswood-Oxford in a 58-53 loss Feb. 18, but they've gained traction since by beating Class A Choate, B Large Berkshire and AA Marianapolis.
3. Hamden Hall (18-6)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 2-0
At times, the Hornets have looked like a top 10 team in all of NEPSAC. An overtime triumph against AAA Newman and convincing victory over AA Wilbraham & Monson stand out as signature wins in their bag. They've also given away games against Brooks, St. Luke's and Greenwich Country Day in Class B Large. But Hamden Hall has defeated both of B Small's top two seeds. Maddie Benigni (East Hampton, Conn.), a 2027 Quinnipiac commit, has been a game-changing point guard since transferring. She's joined by several quality two-way guards and wings, including Mercy commit Tessa Porch (Middletown, Conn.).
4. Kingswood Oxford (16-7)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 3-0
The Wyverns have flown somewhat under the radar in B Small, but a Feb. 18 victory over Ethel Walker highlights their recent wins. They've also hung with some good programs in other NEPSAC classes like Loomis Chaffee and Choate. This is a pretty balanced team with a few contributors capable of taking the lead. I'd look first at seniors Katie Reale (West Hartford, Conn.), and Samaria Gonzalez (Bloomfield, Conn.), plus freshman Dalila Malz (Colchester, Conn.).
5. Mount St. Charles (13-9)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 0-3
At 9-3 since Jan. 6, Mount St. Charles has capitalized on a lighter second-half schedule after taking its lumps before winter break, and is improving under first-year coach Antonia Corsinetti. Ava Ayotte (Burrillville, R.I.) has been electric as a 2028 scoring guard, clearing 1,000 career points with a 33-point explosion on Feb. 19. The Woonsocket Call wrote a great story about Ayotte overcoming a heart condition last offseason to return. Beyond Ayotte, senior guard Jaizzy Santiago (Worcester, Mass.) is another go-to playmaker to follow.
6. Cushing (16-7)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 1-2
Star senior wing Isys Dunphy (Barrington, R.I.), a Central Connecticut commit, is the engine for the Penguins, averaging 20 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. Dunphy is one of a select few Div. 1 talents in B Small, but she has support from Hannah Murphy (9.1 points, 2.2 steals) and Jules Morin (Brunswick, Maine). Cushing's notable victories include a 40-37 win against St. Mark's and a 43-31 win over Governor's.
7. King (19-6)
Record against Class B Small field: 0-2
King is a relative unknown because it plays a lot of small schools in its league schedule and hasn't competed against B Small playoff opponents since before winter break. Those were losses to Ethel Walker and Kingswood Oxford. But if you've followed our Stars of the Week roundups, you should be familiar with 2028 standout guard Carolyn Joo. The Ridgefield, Conn., native has a 50-point masterclass to her name this season along with numerous other scoring outbursts. It'll take a lot from Joo and the rest of the team to pull off an upset, but she's one of the elite individual talents in this bracket.
8. Holderness (15-10)
Record against Class B Small field:Â 0-4
Holderness might be an interesting B Small sleeper after ending the season with five straight wins, including against AA Marianapolis, AA Austin Prep and Class A Phillips Andover. But they'll meet Kimball Union, who won both head-to-head regular season matchups, in the quarterfinals. This is a team with a lot of shooting surrounding an impact forward in Colby commit Kate Carboni (Windham, N.H.).
