14-03-2025
5 games to decide the MIAA girls' basketball champions. Here's a look at the divisional matchups
Division 1
Saturday at Tsongas Center, 6 p.m.
Matchup
: No. 1 WACHUSETT (23-1) vs. No. 2 BISHOP FEEHAN (23-2).
Coaches
: Jim Oxford, 19th year (Wachusett); Amy Dolores 6th year (Bishop Feehan).
Wachusett starting 5
: G Tee Lanpher (So.), G Sophie Gibbons (Jr.), G Jae Scott (Jr.), F Caroline Mahoney (Sr.), F Kyla Yurkus (Fr.).
Bishop Feehan starting 5
: G Charlotte Adams-Lopez (Sr.), G Sam Carlson (Sr.), G Maddy Steel (Sr.), F Mollie Mullen (Jr.), F Lily Singer (Sr.).
Players to watch/Wachusett
: Averaging 21.1 points per game along with 11.7 rebounds, Jae Scott spearheads the Mountaineers in a complete sense. Notably, Scott's size and fearlessness make her difficult to stay competitive with for all 32 minutes. Tee Lanpher (15.2 ppg, 2.6 steals per game) impresses with her quickness and agility, and Sophie Gibbons averages 11.7 points along with 4.8 assists.
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Players to watch/Bishop Feehan
: There isn't a single player in the starting lineup that doesn't deserve recognition for the Shamrocks. That being said, Maddy Steel really ties it all together with her team-leading 16 points per game. Mollie Mullen is the only other player in double figures with her scoring (12.8 ppg) and also contributes 3.2 steals a night. Charlotte Adams-Lopez's six assists per game makes for a lethal attack.
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The lowdown
: The Mountaineers have a chip on their shoulder to say the least, having lost seven seniors after last season's title appearance, which gives the edge to reigning champion Bishop Feehan. Dolores holds a record of 113-26 over six years, including 17-3 in MIAA tournament play. However, in the last two years, Wachusett has only lost two games, one its loss to Feehan in the title game last year. The Mountaineers' history of winning – 47 total in that aforementioned span – shows that just about anything is possible, but it could require a monumental effort from Scott to outlast the veteran Shamrock leadership.
Last championship appearance
: Wachusett (2024); Bishop Feehan (2024).
Naya Annigeri and her Medfield teammates have a rematch against Worcester South in the Division 2 final on Saturday.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Division 2
Saturday at Tsongas Center, 4 p.m.
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Matchup
: No. 1 MEDFIELD (22-2) vs. No. 6 WORCESTER SOUTH (19-4).
Coaches
: Mark Nickerson, 21st year (Medfield); Diago McClain, fourth year (Worcester South).
Medfield starting 5
: G Naya Annigeri (So.), G Jailen Annigeri (Sr.), G Tess Baacke (Jr.), G Abby Broderick (Fr.), F Izzy Kittredge (Jr.)
Worcester South starting 5
: G Lydia Charlonne (So.), G Stefania Kyriazis (Fr.), G Ava MacCollom (Jr.), F Gianah Estevez (Jr.), F Bryan Bascones (Sr.).
Players to watch/Medfield
: The younger of the two Annigeri sisters, Naya brings a complete skill set with multi-dimensional scoring ability. The sophomore averages 16.9 points, leading the Warriors, and also contributes 4.3 steals and 3.1 assists. Abby Broderick (11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals) and Izzy Kittredge (10.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists) add to the load, and Jailen Annigeri (6.8 points) exudes leadership.
Players to watch/Worcester South
: South is composed of a two-way offense between Bryan Bascones and Gianah Estevez. Bascones is averaging 20-plus points in the tourney, and Estevez (12 points) is coming off a career-high 21-point outing in the semifinals against Whitman-Hanson. While the Colonels lack size, they have playoff experience and surely don't lack heart.
The lowdown
: If South can bring the same energy and intensity to the floor as it did against W-H in the semifinals, there is a chance for the Colonels to do the improbable and take down Medfield. Likely to be a tight contest either way – last year, the Warriors snuck out with a 48-42 win to claim the title – the Warriors contend because of their speed and playmaking, which stems from Nickerson's expertise.
Last championship appearance
: Medfield (2024); South High Community (2024).
Sophomore Bella Owumi (11) keeps the St. Mary's offense on the attack.
MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE
Division 3
Friday at Tsongas Center, 6:15 p.m.
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Matchup
: No. 1 ST. MARY'S (23-3) vs. No. 3 NORWELL (23-1).
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).
Clinton Lassiter has his Cathedral squad back in the Division 4 final shooting for another championship.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Division 4
Sunday at Tsongas Center, 2 p.m.
Matchup
: No. 1 CATHEDRAL (18-5) vs. No. 3 SOUTH HADLEY (22-3).
Coaches
: Clinton Lassiter, 11th year (Cathedral); Paul Dubuc, 15th year (South Hadley).
Cathedral starting 5
: G Tamia Darling (Jr.), G Hijjah Allen-Paisley (Sr.), G Keyona Raines (Jr.), G/F Malani Smith (Sr.), F Karilyn Perez-Guerrero (Sr.).
South Hadley starting 5
: G Cara Dean (So.), G Caitlin Dean (Sr.), G Cianna Gurek (Sr.), F Kate Phillips (So.), C Ava Asselin (Sr.).
Players to watch/Cathedral
: The Panthers are preposterously deep, but it starts with Hijjah Allen-Paisley, Keyona Raines, and Tamia Darling. Allen-Paisley (17 points, 4 assists, 2 steals), plays with pace and poise, Raines (14 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) has a relentless motor, and Darling (14 points, 7 rebounds) helps control the action.
Players to watch/South Hadley
: The Tigers are a multifaceted team with a strong core of senior leaders. When asked to name a star or two, Dubuc respectfully declines ― a sign he trusts all of his players equally and that anyone is capable of producing on a given night.
The lowdown
: The good news for the Tigers: they know what to expect on Sunday. The less-ideal news is that they have to face the Panthers again. Cathedral is the clear favorite here, but hey, it is March. Anything can happen. The key for Cathedral is to pressure the ball and excel in transition. South Hadley, meanwhile, will have to limit turnovers and find success from beyond the arc to stay afloat.
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Last championship appearance
: Cathedral (2024); South Hadley (2024).
Division 5
Sunday at Tsongas Center, 12 p.m.
Matchup
: No. 2 Hoosac Valley (21-3) vs. No. 5 Renaissance School (24-0).
Coaches
: John Frederick, third year (Hoosac Valley); Joshua Baker, fourth year (Renaissance).
Hoosac Valley starting 5
: G Ashlyn Lesure (Sr.), G Reagan Shea (So.), F Emma Meczywor (Sr.), F Genevieve Lagess (Fr.)
Renaissance starting 5
: G Sy-nye Baker (So.), SG Kaylee Buzzell (So.), G Keishla Rodriguez (Fr.), F Zi-Yan Wallace (8th grade), F/C Zh-Nai Wallace (So.)
Players to watch/Hoosac Valley
: Senior guard Ashlyn Lesure tops out Hoosac Valley's scoring at 14.3 points per game, followed by senior forward Emma Meczywor (10.8 ppg) and sophomore guard Reagan Shea (10.1 ppg). Meczywor (8.7 rebounds) leads the frontcourt and she also contributes 3.6 steals. Shea shoots at a clip of 41.2 percent from 3-point land.
Players to watch/Renaissance
: Zi-Yan Wallace is at 19.4 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Sy-nye Baker averages 13 ppg and 4 steals. System basketball is the structure Baker set for his team, and Wallace and Baker compliment each other perfectly. The two stay prepared for any type of defense and know how to take what the defense gives them.
The lowdown
: Stopping Hoosac Valley, the defending state champion, will not ben easy task, but Renaissance yearns for redemption after dropping a 57-49 loss in the 2024 semifinal to the Hurricanes. This is also the first time Renaissance has advanced to the title game, which will play a factor in the mentality of Baker and co.
Last championship appearance
: Hoosac Valley (2024); Renaissance (first appearance).
Trevor Hass can be reached at
