14-03-2025
MIAA basketball championships live updates: St. Mary's vs. Norwell girls, Norwell vs. Old Rochester boys
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MIAA basketball championship scores and schedule
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All games at Tsongas Center, Lowell
Friday
6:15 p.m. —
Division 3 girls: No. 1 St. Mary's vs. No. 3 Norwell
8 p.m. —
Division 3 boys: No. 2 Norwell vs. No. 20 Old Rochester
Saturday
Noon —
Division 5 boys: No. 1 Pioneer Valley vs. No. 2 Hopedale
2 p.m. —
Division 4 boys: No. 5 Monument Mountain vs. No. 6 Georgetown
4 p.m. —
Division 2 girls: Division 2: No. 1 Medfield vs. No. 6 Worcester South
6 p.m. —
Division 1 girls: No. 1 Wachusett vs. No. 2 Bishop Feehan
Sunday
Noon —
Division 5 girls: No. 2 Hoosac Valley vs. No. 5 Renaissance
2 p.m. —
Division 4 girls: No. 1 Cathedral vs. No. 3 South Hadley
4 p.m. —
Division 2 boys: No. 1 Malden Catholic vs. No. 6 Somerset Berkley
6 p.m. —
Division 1 boys: No. 1 Franklin vs. No. 3 Newton North
How did they get here? — 5:45 p.m.
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After ousting defending champ Foxborough, Norwell one win away from title
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TAUNTON — As his Norwell girls' basketball team advances deeper and deeper in the Division 3 tournament, coach Matt Marani is often asked variations of the same question.
Are they ready?
'They've been ready since third grade,' Marani replies.
After outlasting No. 2 Foxborough, 55-47, in the semifinals at Taunton High — avenging a 23-point loss to the Warriors in the 2024 state championship in the process — the No. 3 Clippers are one win away from capturing the first state title in program history.
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Bella Owumi, St. Mary's block out noise, roll past Pittsfield into final
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WORCESTER — Cheers. Jeers. Taunts. Chants.
All of it came from the Pittsfield student section, which traveled well to Worcester State University for the Division 3 girls' basketball semifinal .
Although top-seeded St. Mary's shot into the wall of noise to start the win-or-go-home game, it wasn't enough to shake the team's confidence.
Riding three first-quarter 3-pointers from senior Juliana Conte, the Spartans jumped out to an early 16-2 lead. From there, St. Mary's — appearing in its sixth consecutive semifinal — was in control, ultimately defeating No. 5 Pittsfield, 59-43, to advance to this weekend's state final at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.
What did we predict for Division 3 before the playoffs started? — 5:30 p.m.
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Trevor Hass and Graham Dietz, Globe correspondents
Favorites
: No. 1 St. Mary's (19-3), No. 2 Foxborough (19-1).
Sleepers:
No. 6 Fontbonne (15-5), No. 10 Apponequet (17-5).
Analysis
: There are two teams, St. Mary's and Foxborough, to go through.
Defensive-minded Norwell vs. athletic St. Mary's in opener — 5:15 p.m.
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By Trevor Hass, Globe correspondent
Matchup
: No. 1 ST. MARY'S (23-3) vs. No. 3 NORWELL (23-1).
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When:
6:15 p.m., Friday at Tsongas Center
Coaches
: Jeff Newhall, 23rd year (St. Mary's); Matt Marani 18th year (Norwell).
St. Mary's starting 5
: G Lily Norton (So.), G Juliana Conte (Sr.), G Bella Owumi (So.), F Jillian Roberts (Jr.), F Reese Matela (Sr.).
Norwell starting 5
: G Reagan Dowd (Sr.), G Holly Panttila (Sr.), G Paige Maguire (Sr.), F Alex Cassidy (So.), F Maddie Oliver (Sr.).
Players to watch/St. Mary's
: It starts with Bella Owumi, an electric playmaker who has improved her shooting ability, defense, and rebounding. Averaging 17 points and 12.2 rebounds, Owumi excels in transition and often makes the game look easy. Reese Matela is also a force down low, and the two work well in tandem around the rim. Together, they help St. Mary's play a fast, relentless, and overpowering style.
Players to watch/Norwell
: Maddie Oliver took home South Shore League MVP honors for the third consecutive year thanks to another well-rounded season. The 5-foot-11-inch forward controls the glass and finishes strong inside, but is also a prolific passer who can handle the ball and drive on opponents. Over her last three games, she's averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. Oliver complements Reagan Dowd perfectly to form a prolific 1-2 punch their fathers proudly refer to as 'Batman & Robin.'
The lowdown
: Norwell has inched closer and closer to its first state title in program history, making the quarterfinals in 2022, semifinals in 2023, and finals in 2024. The experienced, deep, and defensive-minded Clippers are fully capable of finishing the mission, but Owumi and the ultra-athletic Spartans stand in their way. It will be interesting to see whether or not Owumi and Oliver match up against each other. Either way, fans are in for a treat, as two of the best players in the state go head to head. But, in games like this, it's often the role players that decide the outcome.
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Last championship appearance
: St. Mary's (2023); Norwell (2024).
Brendan Kurie can be reached at
