It's been a minute, but the NEPSAC Top 10 is back for 2025.
We have slightly more than a week of post-winter break basketball to recap, and a few schools have already made statements. There's little change at the top of these rankings, but two new teams join for the first time.
However, the most important topic is what lies ahead: the first meeting of the season between undefeated Class AAA juggernauts Tabor and Nobles (Friday at Tabor, 5:15 p.m.). This week, those sections will feature a mini-preview of the matchup explaining why each side could prevail.
Here's how NEPSAC is shaping up in mid-January.
1. Tabor (10-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: at Milton Academy, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
The case for Tabor: For one, the Seawolves have home-court advantage. They also have greater depth of offensive playmakers and shooters, and a size advantage among their stars. Tabor might play 10-plus players even in this contest. That helps keep legs fresh for everyone, which makes their elite transition offense more devastating as a game wears on. Tabor's Big Three (Kaelyn Carroll, Ava Black and Liv Rodrigues) obviously leads the way, but I'm looking at point guard Molly Corcoran and bench wing Lauren Fitzgerald as X-factors.
2. Nobles (11-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: vs. Brooks, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m.
The case for Nobles:Â Though Tabor has the depth edge offensively, Nobles has some defensive pieces that could swing the game. Brynn Bryant, Vanessa Ellis and freshman Aliyah Allston-Pujols can all bother Tabor's offense right now and contribute on the other end. Nobles also is tough to prepare for because they don't run as many structured sets; a lot of their offense involves quick actions that the Big Three (Jasmyn Cooper, Ashley Dinges and Christina Pham) spearhead themselves. This is a rare team that can match Tabor's tempo.
3. Tilton (8-2)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: vs. Marianapolis, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m.
The Rams opened 2025 by rolling to a 65-48 victory at Austin Prep. After playing a tough opening schedule, Tilton should have a runway to stack wins in January. The Rams do face some talented frontcourts soon in Dexter Southfield, New Hampton and Hoosac.
4. Northfield Mount Hermon (8-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: at Dexter Southfield, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
Not a ton to say about NMH out of the break. They picked up a solid, 62-48 victory against Storm King last Wednesday. I do think Dexter Southfield is an interesting challenge with their versatility and guard depth, but little has rattled NMH so far.
5. New Hampton (7-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: at Holderness, Jan. 15, 3:00 p.m.
The Huskies have only played once since winter break, but that game was a doozy: a Friday afternoon thriller in which they trailed by 15 points in the second half and came back to beat Dexter Southfield on an Elyse Ngenda buzzer-beating putback. They play three games in four days this week, including a road matchup at Tabor on Saturday.
I want to use this space to show love to New Hampton's student broadcasters. They were electric when I watched the second half of the live stream of that Friday win. They gave Dexter fair praise even next to their own school, they gave me a few laughs, and their genuine joy matched the moment. High school student broadcasts have a wide spectrum of hits and misses, but a good one is unlike any broadcast you'll find at any other level of sports. I don't know what their names are, but the students were awesome.
6. Hoosac (7-6)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: at St. Andrew's, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
Carolina Williams went an remarkable 20-for-20 from the free-throw line in Hoosac's 74-68 win against Newman on Saturday. That's a great win against a fast-rising Class AA opponent. Hoosac closes out January with four games against AAA rivals, providing an opportunity to move even further up this list.
7. Loomis Chaffee (5-2)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: vs. Worcester Academy, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
The Pelicans reaffirmed their place as heavy Class A title favorite by cruising past Kent, 60-35, on Saturday. They've got a few quality matchups this week, including games against Worcester Academy and Wilbraham and Monson, before they settle into a heavy dose of Class A opponents after MLK weekend.
8. Wilbraham and Monson (9-5)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: at Austin Prep, Jan. 15, 6:15 p.m.
Saturday's 62-58 triumph against Greens Farms was a great way for the Titans to get back on track. Forward/center Caterina Ravosa dominated with 27 points in the victory and has logged some impressive individual efforts in her last few games. She has two huge matchup tests next though: Wednesday against nationally-ranked Austin Prep star Fope Ayo, and Friday vs. Loomis Chaffee and Columbia-bound Alicia Mitchell.
9. Newman (11-3)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Wilbraham and Monson, Jan. 18, 6 p.m.
I wanted to see the Cardinals prove themselves before I ranked them as a first-year program. They've done enough now, taking just their third loss of the season Saturday in a four-point defeat to Hoosac and then rebounding Sunday with a win against Darrow. The Cardinals run a fun, fast-paced offense led by wings Elliana Scalabrine and Gabby Middleton, and they have a bunch of high-energy guard defenders. It's time to treat Newman as a true Class AA contender.
10. Worcester Academy (5-7)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Loomis Chaffee, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.
A sub-.500 team getting ranked? Look more closely at the Hilltoppers and it doesn't seem that unreasonable. Six of their seven losses have come to top-8 schools, plus an early-December loss to Dexter Southfield. They've beaten Rivers twice, lost to New Hampton by two, given Tabor its most competitive matchup to date and fallen by nine to Tilton. Coaches around NEPSAC respect what Worcester Academy has done so far. The Hilltoppers can solidify their case to stay with a statement game against Loomis Chaffee.
On the radar:Â Berkshire, Darrow, Dexter Southfield, Greens Farms, Rivers
This is a stellar list of five teams just missing the cut. I'm still a long-term believer in Dexter Southfield and their case is extremely similar to Worcester Academy's for a Top 10 spot. Dexter also has the head-to-head win and should have beaten New Hampton Friday. But they didn't, and amid a four-game losing streak with three top-4 opponents coming up, they're in a brutal stretch of the season.
Rivers beat Dexter on Jan. 4 but then lost to Worcester Academy. Greens Farms suffered its first defeat in that close game to Wilbraham and Monson, and Darrow came up short against Newman. Berkshire defeated Kent — a quality win to move to 10-0 — but I need to see the Bears beat more upper-tier foes. The next prove-it game comes at Newman on Jan. 25.
