A high-octane NEPSAC season saved its best for the playoffs.
With mere days (or hours) between games, the postseason tests teams' ability to adapt to opponents and succeed under pressure. We were treated to thrillers and surprising results in each round, and Super Sunday came down to the very last second of the Class AAA championship.
Our final Top 10 heavily weighs the postseason results before putting each class in a larger context. Five of the top six schools are AAA programs. The list also features two from AA, two from A and one from Class B.
Here's one last look at the ten best NEPSAC teams in the 2024-25 season.
1. Tilton (30-4)
Previous ranking: 2
In back-to-back days, Tilton beat Tabor in the Class AAA semifinals and Nobles in a thrilling championship. Those wins alone would earn the top spot, but the Rams continued on to take their second consecutive national prep school championship just two days later. It was in total a 5-0 stretch in four days — an emphatic cap to a historic season for the program.
Tilton does graduate a large core of seniors headlined by Colgate-bound Colleen Phiri (Haverhill, Mass.). Lindsey Lemay (Barrington, R.I.) is committed to Northeastern and Class AAA Tournament MVP Hannah Lynch (Nashua, N.H.) is headed to St. Anselm. But with Bela Cucuta (Newington, Conn.) emerging as a star in the 2026 class, the future remains bright.
2. Nobles (30-2)
Previous ranking: 1
The Bulldogs came up one second and two points short in the Class AAA title game. The defeat overshadows another remarkable season for a program that made three NEPSAC championship appearances (with two titles) and posted a combined 88-6 record across the last three seasons. This winter marked the last chapter in the stellar careers of Nobles' Big Three seniors. Jasmyn Cooper (North Easton, Mass.) next heads to Syracuse, Ashley Dinges (Haverhill, Mass.) will attend Providence and Christina Pham (South Boston, Mass.) will play at Fairfield.
3. Tabor (25-4)
Previous ranking: 3
The Seawolves fell badly at home to Tilton in the Class AAA semifinals. Their four losses this season included two to the Rams, one to Nobles and one to New Hampton. Tabor's own senior Big Three ends its era and heads off to prominent Division 1 schools: Kaelyn Carroll (Dedham, Mass.) to Kentucky, Ava Black (Auburn, N.H.) to Vanderbilt and Olivia Rodrigues (Dennis Port, Mass.) to Providence.
4. Loomis Chaffee (25-3)
Previous ranking: 4
Now four-time reigning Class A champs, the Pelicans withstood a valiant effort from Sacred Heart in the championship and prevailed, 51-45. Their only three losses came to the AAA teams ranked above them in the Top 10. Loomis will look a lot different next winter after graduating seven seniors who took up most of the significant rotation roles. That includes two Division 1 college-bound talents in Columbia commit Alicia Mitchell (Springfield, Mass.) and Quinnipiac commit Aniyah Neal (Syracuse, N.Y.), as well as Tufts-bound point guard Abby Congdon (West Hartford, Conn.).
5. New Hampton (19-9)
Previous ranking: 6
The Huskies produced a comeback, 62-51 win over Hoosac in the Class AAA quarterfinals. They then went toe-to-toe with Nobles in the semis, getting to a 59-59 score late in the second half before the Bulldogs pulled away. New Hampton experienced its ups and downs this winter with a young team that looks ready to ascend the AAA ladder next season. Current 2026 stars Elyse Ngenda (Bedford, N.H.) and Serenity Lancaster (New London, Conn.) are already a dynamic duo.
6. Hoosac (15-12)
Previous ranking: 5
Considering Hoosac led most of the way in the AAA quarterfinals before coming up short — and considering eight of its losses this season came against AAA rivals – this season was a lot better than the record shows. Hoosac does graduate some impact players, including UNH-bound lead guard Carolina Williams. But the program is in good shape for next year with 2027 top-tier prospect Anna Moser (Rutland, Vt.) and 2026 wing Uliana Doronina leading the way.
7. Worcester Academy (22-10)
Previous ranking: 7
What a season from the Hilltoppers, who garnered a ton of respect from viewers and opposing coaches in their march to a Class AA title. Worcester Academy triumphed in a comeback victory over Darrow to win the championship. Elyse MacDonough (South Burlington, Vt.) was the engine this season and heads off to St. Bonaventure's. Saige Youngberg (Wales, Mass.) will play at Mercy. But the Hilltoppers have talent coming back, including 2026 UNH commit Ella Getz (Wayland, Mass.) and 2027 guard Gracyn Barnes (Grafton, Mass.).
8. Darrow (19-10)
Previous ranking: 9
Though Worcester Academy gets the trophy, Darrow deserves tremendous credit for leaping from Class D to the Class AA finals. In Abby Streeter's first year as head coach, the Ducks developed a reputation as one of the stingiest NEPSAC defenses, which helped them go on the road to beat fourth-seeded Newman and top-seeded Northfield Mount Hermon. They'll graduate a lot, highlighted by East Carolina commit Amanda Smith. But 2026 guard Jill Dingler (Storrs, Conn.) represents a promising piece to re-tool around.
9. Sacred Heart (22-5)
Previous ranking: 10
Sacred Heart was viewed as a significant underdog to dominant Loomis Chaffee. So while the 51-45 championship loss stings, it was a phenomenal fight after a clutch victory over Kent in the Class A semifinals. Oushy Hassan prepares for Arkansas as the leading Sacred Heart graduate. Versatile 2026 guard Eva Wilkerson and breakout 2027 wing Luciana Parrotta represent a quality duo for next season.
10. Rivers (19-8)
Previous ranking: NR
The Class B champion deserved a spot in the Top 10 after emerging from arguably the most competitive postseason bracket. Rivers grinded out a win against Greens Farms, secured a victory over Berkshire on a Grace O'Sullivan (Acton, Mass.) bucket with 2.6 seconds remaining, and rolled against St. Luke's behind Natalia Hall-Rosa's 21 points. O'Sullivan is bound for Princeton and Hall-Rosa (Randolph, Mass.) for Seton Hall. The Red Wings will also see Stonehill commit Narissa Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) and Amherst commit Chase Anderson (Concord, Mass.) graduate.
The next five:Â Northfield Mount Hermon, Wilbraham and Monson, St. Luke's, Berkshire, Hotchkiss
