For those fans in search of excitement, it’s hard to look past the Div. 1 girls basketball final.
When No. 2 Wachusett and top-seed Bishop Feehan collide on Friday night at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, it will feature two of premier teams in Massachusetts. The game is a rematch of the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament finals where the Mountaineers beat the Shamrocks, 76-45.
Feehan has dominated the competition throughout the tournament, defeating each of its four opponents by at least 23 points. Senior forward Julia Webster has been the star and is coming off a program-record 34-point performance in a semifinal win over Woburn. The Mountaineers, however, present a different challenge as they enter the game at a perfect 24-0.
After losing in the semifinals in consecutive seasons, the Mountaineers got over the hump on Tuesday as they received strong nights from Mary Gibbons and Jaeylnn Scott.
Medfield has been the team to beat in Div. 2 for the entire winter and enters its contest with South High as the favorite. Sophomore Izzy Kittredge has tormented teams with her ability to get to the basket and shoot the three. Tess Baacke, Annie Stanton and Naya Annigeri provide the Warriors with plenty of depth. South has taken no prisoners this state tournament as evidenced by its 25-point thrashing of Notre Dame Academy. Senior Naima Bleou is the go-to scorer.
Coming into the state tournament, multiple coaches thought Foxboro was unbeatable and so far it has looked the part. The Warriors have won their first four tournament games by at least 30 points. Lisa Downs’ always talented group is led by the star backcourt duo of Camryn Collins and Kailey Sullivan.
Foxboro will try to cap its dominant run in the Div. 3 state final against Norwell on Friday night. The Clippers are no slouch as they have one of the premier players in Eastern Mass. in Madison Oliver. Norwell’s defense has been outstanding as the Clippers have yet to allow over 40 points in a postseason game.
Cathedral is looking to repeat as Div. 4 state champions when it takes on South Hadley. The Panthers hold a notable win over Div. 1 state finalist Bishop Feehan and last lost on Jan. 23 when it fell on the road to Div. 3 final four participant St. Mary’s. South Hadley, however, will be no cupcake as the Tigers hold a win over Div. 5 top dog Hoosac Valley and also played Div. 2 semifinalist Northampton to a seven-point contest on Dec. 29.
Renaissance was the only team in Massachusetts to win all of its games by double figures until Hoosac Valley put an end to its season in the state semifinals. The Hurricanes’ defense has been sensational all season as they have allowed fewer than 39 points per game. West Boylston has only lost once since the middle of January and showed it is not afraid of the big moment when it took down Palmer in overtime in the state semifinal. Along with Sammie Mullins, eighth-grader Alicia Stone has been key for the Lions.
Division 1
Bishop Feehan has been playing terrific this postseason, but this Wachusett team simply has too many weapons. The Mountaineers finish their season unblemished.
Pick: 68-59, Wachusett
Division 2
Medfield has been the team to beat nearly wire-to-wire. The Warriors show it when it matters most.
Pick: 66-58, Medfield
Division 3
Madison Oliver is as good as any player in Eastern Mass., but this Foxboro team has been on a mission.
Pick: 65-54, Foxboro
Division 4
Pick against Cathedral come the state title at your own peril. The Panthers have plenty of postseason experience to finish the job.
Pick: 72-58, Cathedral
Division 5
Hoosac Valley was the first team to beat Renaissance and it takes care of business in the final over West Boylston on the heels of its dominant defense.
Pick: 64-48, Hoosac Valley