Despite being the fifth-overall seed in the Div. 3 tournament, St. Mary’s still considers itself the team to beat.
The two-time defending state champion Spartans enter the postseason having not lost a tournament game since 2019. They are strong contenders once again 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 said. “Playing in our program and in the Catholic Central League, we’re kind of used to that.”
The Spartans will have plenty of competition in their pursuit of a three-peat. Foxboro created a championship standard when in Div. 2 and it remains a favorite 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 another title it is likely going to have to get past No. 9 Pentucket and the aforementioned Spartans. On the other side is No. 2 Norwell and one of the top players in Eastern Mass. in junior Madison Oliver. The Clippers are likely to have to get past South Shore League foe No. 3 Sandwich if it hopes to make the final. The sides split their regular season matchups.
If the end of the season is any indication, the Div. 1 girls basketball tournament will be one to watch.
Second-seed Wachusett made a statement at the conclusion of the regular season, defeating fellow Div. 1 contender Bishop Feehan and Div. 3 favorite Foxborough to capture the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament. The Shamrocks, the top overall seed, would love a chance at revenge against the Mountaineers but face a potential dangerous quarterfinal with No. 9 Quincy.
On the heels of 1,000 point scorer Meg Doyle, No. 7 Weymouth could play spoiler. Sixth-seeded Central Catholic posted a strong effort against Div. 2 favorite Medfield in the Comcast Tournament showing it will be no easy out this March. Springfield Central and No. 4 Woburn are favorites to reach the final four, but the Tanners will face a stiff Round of 16 matchup from No. 13 Andover if chalk holds.
The Div. 2 tournament holds no shortage of contenders.
Medfield enters the field as the tournament’s top seed buoyed by Tess Baacke and sharpshooter Izzy Kittredge. The Warriors will have no cakewalk to the final four as No. 9 Norwood is a sleeper to upset the bracket in the state quarterfinals. Fourth-seeded Dartmouth has star scorer Kat Cheesbro but No. 13 Whitman-Hanson could prove difficult to get past if both teams win first round matchups.
On the other side, No. 2 Walpole and No. 3 Notre Dame (Hingham) have the makings of an exciting state semifinal matchup. The Rebels, however, may have to get past a stingy No. 10 Mansfield in the quarterfinal if the Hornets hold serve early. Worcester South and Northampton are dangerous.
Cathedral is no stranger to being the top dog in Div. 4 and is the favorite once again.
The No. 1 Panthers hold a win over Div. 1 top seed Bishop Feehan and are led by point guard Tamia Darling. Should Cathedral not take home the title, two teams to watch are No. 4 Millis and No. 6 Cohasset. Millis allowed fewer than 40 points per game during the regular seaso and has guard Lindsey Grattan. The Skippers, meanwhile, hold a notable win over Archbishop Williams, fell to Div. 3 contender Sandwich by just two points on the road, and have arguably the top player in the field in Sarah Chenette.
Sutton enters the field a perfect 20-0 and promises to give Cathedral a run in the Div. 1 quarterfinals if it can win its first two tournament games.
Hoosac Valley fell in the 2023 Div. 5 state semifinals and is the odds-on favorite to finish on top this March.
The bracket is an eye-catcher due to undefeated No. 4 Renaissance. Renaissance (20-0) has beaten every team by double figures on the heels of guard Zi’Yan Wallace. Westport is a Final Four contender as the No. 5 Wildcats feature 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