The toughest opponent in NEPSAC girls basketball this winter? Mother Nature.
The onslaught of snow from mid-January until... TBD... has upended scheduling around the region. Many teams have canceled games outright with too small a window before the playoffs. It's also created some grueling road trips and generally disrupted the cadence of the prep season. The weather has truly tested elite programs mentally, and it's hard to comprehend that we're only 10 days away from NEPSAC crowning its class champions.
This is our final check-in before the playoffs, which start with quarterfinals next Wednesday, semifinals Saturday and then Super Sunday at Nobles. Several important matchups remain that would impact these rankings, even down to the final day on Saturday, but we'll have to save recapping those for our postseason coverage.
Here's where NEPSAC girls basketball stands in the home stretch of the regular season.
1. Hoosac (20-6)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at Tilton, Feb. 28, 3:30 p.m.
Hoosac has wrestled back its No. 1 spot from a few weeks ago, and at this point, it's hard to doubt a team with one total NEPSAC loss. They've beaten Nobles, Tabor and Newman since the last rankings update and have one more big game to go: a road trip to Tilton on Saturday. Hoosac has all-but secured a top-two seed in the Class AAA playoffs. I think this is arguably the toughest home environment in all of NEPSAC, so it's hard for me not to pencil in Hoosac as a finalist already.
2. Tabor (21-4)
Next game: at Dexter Southfield, Feb. 28, 2 p.m.
Tabor's win streak came to a bitter end at Hoosac, where the Seawolves went cold behind the arc and lost, 61-53. They've already had two games against Nobles and St. Andrew's cancelled this week due to weather. The only matchup left on the schedule is Saturday against Dexter Southfield — the only other opponent to beat Tabor in the 2026 calendar year.
3. Tilton (22-3)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at New Hampton, Feb. 27, 6 p.m.
Tilton's massive back-to-back weekend, at New Hampton and against Hoosac, looms large. How much will the Rams want to show their hand against opponents they might see just days later? On the contrary, how much do winning statement games and generating momentum matter going into the playoffs? Coach Tara Brisson often stresses how important it is for her team to be playing its best at playoff time. This is an ideal — and challenging — tune-up.
4. New Hampton (15-5)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Tilton, Feb. 27, 6 p.m.
The Huskies went 11 days without playing a game before defeating Brewster on Wednesday. They've had a few bizarre stretches like this during the season due to weather postponements. But New Hampton has to lock in quickly. They have a home back-to-back against Tilton and Worcester Academy to finish off the regular season before entering the AAA playoffs as a likely top-four seed.
5. Nobles (19-7)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: vs. Milton Academy, Feb. 27, 6 p.m.
After three games in four days last week — a 2-1 stretch with wins against St. Mark's and Rivers, plus a loss at Hoosac — the Bulldogs beat Governor's Wednesday and end their regular season Friday against Milton Academy. Alannah Morantus surpassed 1,000 career points and continues a stellar season as a 2028 transfer.
6. Newman (13-15)
Next game: at Putnam Science, March 1, 3 p.m.
I watched a bit of Newman's 60-53 home loss to Tilton; the Cardinals battled throughout the game and Gabby Middleton looks as confident as I've seen from her. Still, Newman is so close but not quite there against the AAA elites, also losing 65-61 at Hoosac. The Cardinals did bounce back with a solid home win against Northfield Mount Hermon, which ends their NEPSAC regular season schedule. They won't draw a high seed in the AAA playoffs but will be an interesting sleeper with upset potential.
7. Darrow (20-3)
Previous rank: 7
Darrow's regular season is complete following Wednesday's win against Austin Prep. The Ducks also scored a huge statement victory at Wilbraham & Monson, 48-33, that split the season series between our top two ranked AA programs. Add in one more win last Friday against a very good Hamden Hall team, and Darrow has strung together eight straight Ws since its defeat at Newman on Jan. 30. This team is riding a ton of momentum into the postseason.
8. Wilbraham & Monson (15-10)
Next game: at Suffield, Feb. 27, 6 p.m.
The Titans put up their lowest point total of the season (33) in the loss to Darrow. But they bounced back by beating Northfield Mount Hermon in a similar rock fight, 43-38, and also prevailed against another Class AA opponent in Brimmer & May. At 9-3 in-class, WMA should feel pretty comfortable as a contender and has a good chance at a top-two seed. They close their schedule with a back-to-back against quality opponents in Suffield and Marianapolis.
9. Worcester Academy (18-9)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at New Hampton, Feb. 28, 3 p.m.
Worcester Academy got back on track with wins against MacDuffie and Cushing. It's been a bumpy February, but I think injuries contributed to some of the struggles and this team seems to be back healthier again. The loss to Lawrence Academy feels more like a blip on the radar compared to the Hilltoppers' season sweeps of Wilbraham & Monson, Northfield Mount Hermon and Marianapolis.
10. Northfield Mount Hermon (15-10)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at MacDuffie, Feb. 28, 3 p.m.
I debated as many as eight different teams for this final Top 10 spot. Northfield Mount Hermon only went 1-2 in the last week, losing to Wilbraham & Monson and Newman. But several other Top 10 contenders also faltered, and their win against Putnam Science (who I'd consider a borderline Top 10 program if they played in NEPSAC) is meaningful. Reflecting on their overall season, NMH has played a tough schedule and only lost twice to currently-unranked teams (Dexter Southfield and Sacred Heart). I trust the veteran leadership in this program and NMH is still very much a Class AA contender.
The next five: Hamden Hall, Loomis Chaffee, St. George's, Suffield, Dexter Southfield
You could make a valid case for any of these five teams to occupy that last Top 10 slot. I also continue to monitor Brooks, who added Rivers, Thayer and St. Mark's to its nine straight victories. Sacred Heart is also rolling through a light portion of its schedule and is a top team to watch in the Class A playoffs.
