This year, our coverage of New England's basketball scene included regular season Top 10 updates for all six New England high school associations. Put those programs all together, and the top tier of public and private state association schools is strong.
A handful of them also played each other at different points during the season. That got me thinking... who were the absolute best of the best?
This was a fun and difficult exercise. I accounted for teams' ultimate results in their individual states, but head-to-head meetings across state boundaries mattered a lot. On-paper talent makes a difference too for when I can't compare teams directly. I selfishly would love to see more of these schools do battle. And just to reiterate: prep schools are not listed (Here's our final NEPSAC Top 10).
Here are my Top 10 New England high schools from the past winter season.
1. Medfield (Mass.)
This season: 25-0 official record, won MIAA Division 2 championship
The Warriors didn't just dominate against MIAA competition. They also went out and beat New Hampshire powers Bedford and Londonderry in the Londonderry Holiday Classic, both by double digits. Though the latter Londonderry matchup technically was an exhibition, the intensity made it feel like one of the most important contests of the season. Putting the Warriors at No. 1 was the easiest decision to make on this list.
PERFECTION:Â Here's how the Warriors pulled off an undefeated season
2. Londonderry (N.H.)
This season: 18-3 official record, won NHIAA Division 1 championship
The Lancers lost twice to Bedford and once to Concord Christian, but took down both those teams when it mattered most during their playoff run. They also beat Wachusett (Mass.), 62-53, on Dec. 20, and Barrington (R.I.), 38-36, on Jan. 31. Sammie Sullivan gave us a special senior season before she goes to Bryant and junior Gemma Murray has a likely Div. 1 future as well. Brooke Eacrett, who will play at Rhode Island College, deserves a ton of credit for her big games in the postseason.
3. Wachusett (Mass.)
This season: 22-3 official record, won MIAA Division 1 championship
The Mountaineers fell to the above two teams and had a midseason hiccup against Minnechaug. But they otherwise rolled through MIAA Division 1, beating Springfield Central in a hard-fought championship game. Wachusett also took down Bedford, 59-52, on Feb. 18. Jae Scott is the highest-profile individual talent in New England state association schools right now and leads a loaded roster on paper.
4. Bedford (N.H.)
This season: 17-3 official record, lost in NHIAA Div. 1 semifinal
The Bulldogs were without star forward Mel McCarthy for half of the season. That definitely hurt them in the 62-29 loss to Medfield at the Londonderry Holiday Classic, and the one-point loss to Bishop Feehan (Mass.) on Jan. 10. But when McCarthy returned, Bedford added wins against Londonderry and Concord Christian before running into Londonderry in the state semifinals. McCarthy, plus tremendous backcourt depth, helped Bedford keep itself as a regional force.
5. Concord Christian (N.H.)
This season: 19-2 official record, lost in NHIAA Div. 1 final
This was a massive breakthrough season for the Kingsmen, who proved they could hang with New Hampshire's dynamic duo of Bedford and Londonderry. They defeated Londonderry, 59-52, on Jan. 28, and lost 47-44 to Bedford on Feb. 13. Emma Smith's stardom fueled the success; the Lee-bound senior became the sixth girl in state history to clear 2,000 career points.
6. Greenwich (Conn.)
This season: 25-2 official record, won CIAC Division 1 championship
The Cardinals are the first tough team to place because they did not play any of New England's other state powers. But they did overcome two in-state losses to win their first CIAC Division 1 championship (also the first after Connecticut restructured its divisions). That included a win in the final against powerhouse Northwest Catholic. Sophomore Zuri Faison is a rising star and Madi Utzinger helped lead as a senior.
7. Springfield Central (Mass.)
This season: 21-4 official record, lost in MIAA Div. 1 final
The most impressive win on the Golden Eagles' schedule came at the Hoophall Classic, where they prevailed over then-three-time reigning Connecticut champion (of various classes) Northwest Catholic. This young roster dropped two games in the region: one midseason against Minnechaug and the state final against Wachusett.
8. Northwest Catholic (Conn.)
This season: 26-2 official record, lost in CIAC Division 1 final
The Lions saw their three-year streak of CIAC state championships (classes, before divisions existed) end against Greenwich. Their only other loss on the season was at Hoophall to Springfield Central. Abby Casper became the program's all-time leading scorer and best player. She'll go to Holy Cross, and point guard Maeve Staunton will play soccer at UConn.
9. Barrington (R.I.)
This season: 23-2 official record, won RIIL state championship
With a thrilling, 65-62 overtime triumph against Westerly, the Eagles soared to a state title. They had a pair of sophomores leading the way: shifty point guard Genesis Castro and sharpshooter Ella Martin, whose 3-pointer sent the final to OT. Barrington also fared well at the Londonderry Holiday Classic, and later when they lost by two to Londonderry on Jan. 31.
10. Cheverus (Maine)
This season: 21-1 official record, won Maine Class A championship
Maine schools almost never play outside of the state, making it very tough to compare these teams. But I think the basketball scene is underrated and Cheverus deserves a spot after pulling off a ridiculous, comeback overtime win against Hampden in the Class A championship game. Kylie Lamson deserves more recognition (outside of Maine) for the star she's become, as does freshman Kristin King, who led with 24 points in the championship win.
The next five:Â Westerly (R.I.), Hampden (Maine), Oceanside (Maine), Mount Mansfield (Vt.), Sacred Heart (Conn.)
Westerly is a tough snub here. The Bulldogs were Rhode Island's top team at the regular season's end and only lost two games. Ella Reyes is the real deal as one of New England's best sophomores. Another underclassman to watch: freshman Olivia Breen, the star for Oceanside. Vermont doesn't make the cut in the Top 10, but Division I champion Mount Mansfield won what was right up with the most insane state finals in New England this winter. The Cougars overcame a 22-point deficit and defeated Rutland, 62-60, on Aly Dorman's bucket in the final seconds.
