The 2023 MIAA Basketball season supplied firsts, repeat champions, and people who avenged agonizing defeat.
A 12 months after faltering down the stretch of the Div. 1 state title sport, Andover knocked off Bishop Feehan in a heavyweight between two powerhouse ladies applications to seize their second state championship in 5 seasons.
In a battle of two groups on the lookout for its first state championship, Worcester North held off Needham to ship the second-largest metropolis in New England right into a celebratory frenzy. Needham ought to get one other crack subsequent 12 months because it builds round Bay State Herget MVP junior guard Brian Cloonan.
Malden Catholic versus Mansfield appeared poised to be an immediate traditional between two of the premier applications in Massachusetts however Nick Martinez and the Lancers had different concepts. Martinez scored 28 factors because the Lancers smothered Mansfield and repeated as Div. 2 state champions.
Ashlee Talbot and Dracut had a season to recollect because the Middies made a powerful run to the Div. 2 ladies state last solely to return up quick towards Lisa Downs’ all the time spectacular Foxboro staff.
Two of the higher groups in Massachusetts in 2023 got here from decrease divisions as Archbishop Williams and Wareham captured the Div. 3 and 4 titles respectively. Wareham’s spectacular efficiency within the finale left some to marvel how properly the Vikings would match up towards the state’s higher crust. Jeff Newhall’s St. Mary’s group confirmed its mettle capturing the Div. 3 ladies crown.
Clinton Lassiter’s Cathedral Panthers dominated Div. 4, knocking off a sharpshooting Wahconah staff within the title sport. Taconic ended David Prouty’s hopes of an undefeated season with an exciting win within the Div. 5 boys sport.
State championship weekend on the Tsongas Center was visited by over 12,000 followers, far surpassing final 12 months’s whole. Yet via all the joy that state championship weekend introduced, it was a victory again within the opening spherical of the state match that stole the present. In a stunner, No. 32 Winchester defeated No. 1 Catholic Memorial, 61-55, to show the Div. 1 bracket on its head. The Sachems win showcased that via the entire MIAA’s celebration concerning the accuracy of the ability rankings, upsets and Cinderella tales are nonetheless alive underneath the brand new statewide match format.
Three Gripes
1. Stop complaining: Yes, in a piece titled “Three gripes” I’m going to name on others to cease complaining. Irony just isn’t lifeless.
There are a variety of issues to query in relation to the MIAA State Basketball Tournament. It’s cheap that folks could also be calling for extra collegiate venues for use or a return to the TD Garden. Some have known as for divisional doubleheaders come the Final Four or Round of Eight. All truthful factors. Yet when the match begins, the complaining should finish. Too usually out within the open and publicly, college officers and disgruntled media members complain about sport websites or dates. The ones wailing are in fact by no means the student-athletes however fairly the adults themselves.
The MIAA State Tournament ought to all the time be concerning the student-athletes first and the adults second. Everything ought to be accomplished to boost the student-athletes expertise. Consistently, gyms are crowded no matter venue with constructive studies again on staffing and host websites. Worcester State this 12 months was a chief instance.
As MIAA Basketball Tournament director Jim Quatromoni put it, “Going into it all these people on Twitter have complaints about anything and everything. Then the game happens and the reports back from the kids and coaches are positive. That’s what matters. Their experience.”
2. Get Where You Belong: A practice throughout the winter seasons are groups clearly taking part in within the mistaken division. After almost a decade of success, and double-digit drubbings all through the match, administrations must strongly take into account difficult themselves and their faculties by taking part in towards stronger competitors. Winning a state championship is all the time exhausting, but it surely’s a bit of simpler when the opposite staff doesn’t stand a preventing likelihood.
3. Raise the Standard: Between having the ability to qualify through a high 32 spot within the energy rankings or with a minimal profitable proportion of .500, it’s turn into too simple to qualify for the MIAA State Tournament. The Div. 1 boys bracket noticed 48 groups make the match, whereas the Div. 5 boys postseason area consisted of an astounding 53 groups.
The addition of energy rankings to state match seeding standards has been a constructive for highschool athletics as groups are rewarded for taking part in robust competitors. There ought to, nonetheless, be a profitable proportion minimal in relation to qualifying for the postseason. If you can’t win no less than half your video games over the course of a 20- or 22-game season then it shouldn’t matter whether or not you’re taking part in the Knicks, Gonzaga, or one of the best groups in Massachusetts — you don’t belong within the state match.
Top Five Games In the 2022-23 Season
Worcester North 57, Lawrence 54: In a battle between two Div. 1 boys contenders, Worcester North outlasted Lawrence in entrance of a jammed home at Emmanuel College on Jan. 16.
Medfield 54, Woburn 52: Kate Olenik proved why she was one of many premier gamers in Massachusetts as she scored 33 factors to guide Medfield to an exciting victory over Woburn within the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament.
Archbishop Williams 78, St. Marys 77: The first of two conferences between these Catholic Central League rivals was an immediate traditional as Josh Campbell put residence an offensive rebound on the buzzer to present the Bishops an exciting street victory.
Winchester 61, Catholic Memorial 55: Winchester shocked the highschool hoops world on March 3 because the No. 32 Sachems defeated top-seeded Catholic Memorial. John DeMichaelis scored 21 factors whereas Tommy Lampert scored 16 within the second half.
Dracut 50, Medfield 47: The Div. 2 ladies state semifinal got here right down to the wire as Lames Alasaad got here via with a steal and rating within the closing seconds to ship Dracut to the state championship.
Source: www.bostonherald.com