Despite being the fifth-overall seed within the Div. 3 event, St. Mary’s nonetheless considers itself the staff to beat.
The two-time defending state champion Spartans enter the postseason having not misplaced a event sport since 2019. They are sturdy contenders as soon as once more behind star freshman Bella Owumi.
“It does not matter what seed we are. The last time we lost a postseason game was 2019 so everyone is looking at us as the team to beat,” St. Mary’s coach Jeff Newhall stated. “Playing in our program and in the Catholic Central League, we’re kind of used to that.”
The Spartans can have loads of competitors of their pursuit of a three-peat. Foxboro created a championship commonplace when in Div. 2 and it stays a favourite now in Div. 3.
The Warriors (19-2) are bolstered by the star backcourt tandem of Camryn Collins and Kailey Sullivan. If Foxboro is to win one other title it’s doubtless going to must get previous No. 9 Pentucket and the aforementioned Spartans. On the opposite facet is No. 2 Norwell and one of many high gamers in Eastern Mass. in junior Madison Oliver. The Clippers are prone to must get previous South Shore League foe No. 3 Sandwich if it hopes to make the ultimate. The sides break up their common season matchups.
If the tip of the season is any indication, the Div. 1 women basketball event might be one to look at.
Second-seed Wachusett made a press release on the conclusion of the common season, defeating fellow Div. 1 contender Bishop Feehan and Div. 3 favourite Foxborough to seize the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament. The Shamrocks, the highest total seed, would love an opportunity at revenge towards the Mountaineers however face a possible harmful quarterfinal with No. 9 Quincy.
On the heels of 1,000 level scorer Meg Doyle, No. 7 Weymouth might play spoiler. Sixth-seeded Central Catholic posted a powerful effort towards Div. 2 favourite Medfield within the Comcast Tournament displaying it is going to be no simple out this March. Springfield Central and No. 4 Woburn are favorites to achieve the ultimate 4, however the Tanners will face a stiff Round of 16 matchup from No. 13 Andover if chalk holds.
The Div. 2 event holds no scarcity of contenders.
Medfield enters the sector because the event’s high seed buoyed by Tess Baacke and sharpshooter Izzy Kittredge. The Warriors can have no cakewalk to the ultimate 4 as No. 9 Norwood is a sleeper to upset the bracket within the state quarterfinals. Fourth-seeded Dartmouth has star scorer Kat Cheesbro however No. 13 Whitman-Hanson might show troublesome to get previous if each groups win first spherical matchups.
On the opposite facet, No. 2 Walpole and No. 3 Notre Dame (Hingham) have the makings of an thrilling state semifinal matchup. The Rebels, nevertheless, could must get previous a stingy No. 10 Mansfield within the quarterfinal if the Hornets maintain serve early. Worcester South and Northampton are harmful.
Cathedral is not any stranger to being the highest canine in Div. 4 and is the favourite as soon as once more.
The No. 1 Panthers maintain a win over Div. 1 high seed Bishop Feehan and are led by level guard Tamia Darling. Should Cathedral not take dwelling the title, two groups to look at are No. 4 Millis and No. 6 Cohasset. Millis allowed fewer than 40 factors per sport through the common seaso and has guard Lindsey Grattan. The Skippers, in the meantime, maintain a notable win over Archbishop Williams, fell to Div. 3 contender Sandwich by simply two factors on the street, and have arguably the highest participant within the discipline in Sarah Chenette.
Sutton enters the sector an ideal 20-0 and guarantees to present Cathedral a run within the Div. 1 quarterfinals if it could win its first two event video games.
Hoosac Valley fell within the 2023 Div. 5 state semifinals and is the odds-on favourite to complete on high this March.
The bracket is an eye-catcher as a consequence of undefeated No. 4 Renaissance. Renaissance (20-0) has overwhelmed each staff by double figures on the heels of guard Zi’Yan Wallace. Westport is a Final Four contender because the No. 5 Wildcats function 1,000-point scorer Korynne Holden.
DIV. 1
CHAMPION: Wachusett
RUNNER-UP: Bishop Feehan
SLEEPER: Andover
FINAL FOUR: Wachusett, Bishop Feehan, Central Catholic, Woburn
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: Chelmsford at Braintree
POTENTIAL UPSET: Newton North over Framingham
DIV. 2
CHAMPION: Medfield
RUNNER-UP: Walpole
SLEEPER: Duxbury
FINAL FOUR: Medfield, Walpole, Notre Dame (Hingham), Whitman-Hanson
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: North Quincy at Whitman-Hanson
POTENTIAL UPSET: Pembroke over Reading
DIV. 3
CHAMPION: Foxborough
RUNNER-UP: Norwell
SLEEPER: Pentucket
FINAL FOUR: Foxborough, Norwell, Sandwich, St. Mary’s
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: Old Rochester at Watertown
POTENTIAL UPSET: Falmouth over Springfield International
DIV. 4
CHAMPION: Cathedral
RUNNER-UP: Bourne
SLEEPER: Cohasset
FINAL FOUR: Cathedral, Bourne, Cohasset, Millis
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: None
POTENTIAL UPSET: None
DIV. 5
CHAMPION: Hoosac Valley
RUNNER-UP: Lenox Memorial
SLEEPER: Hopedale
FINAL FOUR: Hoosac Valley, West Boylston, Lenox, Wesport
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: Narragansett at Greenfield
POTENTIAL UPSET: Neighborhood House over Drury
Source: www.bostonherald.com