Title runs through Catholic Conference
After three of the four final teams in last year’s Div. 1 state tournament represented the Catholic Conference, few were shocked to see this year’s MIAA seedings.
With five of the conference’s six teams cracking the Div. 1 bracket’s top 10, and half of the first round’s home games hosted by private schools, Super 8 enthusiasts have plenty of fuel to continue calling for the tournament’s return. We can expect plenty of fight and strength from the publics, but don’t be surprised if those privates take up at least 75 percent of the state semifinals once again.
Still, there’s plenty of opportunity beyond the favorites.
Top-ranked defending state champion St. John’s Prep is still a power, but fellow title contenders No. 2 Catholic Memorial and No. 8
BC High showed the armor isn’t impenetrable by beating the Eagles. No. 3 Hingham is a strong candidate after an 8-1 showing against Catholic schools in the regular season. Star-studded No. 4 Pope Francis should make a deep run, too.
Look for noise from the Middlesex League, as No. 6 Arlington and No. 10 Belmont stand as significant threats while No. 14 Reading looks to shake off a skid. No. 19 Woburn flashes upset power. Never count out No. 5 Marshfield, nor top sleepers No. 12 Franklin, No. 11 Braintree, or No. 15 St. Mary’s.
The Patriot League is pound-for-pound just as loaded as the Catholic Conference in other brackets.
For as strong as No. 1 Tewksbury looks to repeat its Div. 2 state title, No. 2 Duxbury has the resume and talent to upend it. No. 5 Silver Lake, No. 9 Whitman-Hanson and No. 11 Plymouth South threaten, while the Div. 3 state tournament features No. 1 Scituate as a strong title favorite and reigning champion No. 7 Hanover contends.
Plenty of dangers in Div. 2 to worry about, though. No. 3 Canton is as strong as ever. No. 4 Walpole and No. 6 Newburyport navigated through strong competition to enter the tourney battle tested. No. 8 Hopkinton, No. 10 Wakefield and No. 12 Gloucester will turn heads.
The same goes for Div. 3. No. 2 Lynnfield should make another run for the title and is on a collision course for an excellent semifinal against No. 3 Medfield. No. 6 Marlboro has a good makeup to get far, as does a No. 5 Watertown team that will have to get past No. 4 Nauset. No. 8 Essex Tech and No. 10 Triton are quality sleepers.
The Cape and Islands has a signature stamp among Div. 4 contenders, led by defending champion No. 2 Sandwich. A rematch of last year’s state semifinal double-overtime win over No. 1 Norwell would make for a thrilling final, but No. 3 Winthrop will be difficult to overcome.
No. 6 Nantucket, No. 7 Dennis-Yarmouth and No. 8 Martha’s Vineyard are capable of upsetting any team ranked above them, while No. 5 Shawsheen looks to prove its rank among contenders.
Predictions
DIV. 1
CHAMPION: No. 3 Hingham
RUNNER-UP: No. 1 St. John’s Prep
SLEEPER: No. 12 Franklin
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 St. John’s
Prep, No. 2 Catholic Memorial, No. 3 Hingham, No. 4 Pope Francis
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 14 Reading vs No. 19 Woburn
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 22 Weymouth over No. 11 Braintree
DIV. 2
CHAMPION: No. 2 Duxbury
RUNNER-UP: No. 1 Tewksbury
SLEEPER: No. 12 Gloucester
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Tewksbury, No. 2 Duxbury, No. 3 Canton, No. 4 Walpole
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 16 Marblehead vs. No. 17 Norwood
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 20 Auburn/Millbury over No. 13 Somerset Berkley
DIV. 3
CHAMPION: No. 1 Scituate
RUNNER-UP: No. 3 Medfield
SLEEPER: No. 7 Hanover
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Scituate, No. 2 Lynnfield, No. 3 Medfield, No. 5 Watertown
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 10 Triton vs No. 23 Danvers
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 23 Danvers
DIV. 4
CHAMPION: No. 1 Norwell
RUNNER-UP: No. 2 Sandwich
SLEEPER: No. 7 Dennis-Yarmouth
FINAL FOUR: No. 1 Norwell, No. 2 Sandwich, No. 3 Winthrop, No. 5 Shawsheen
BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: No. 14 Assabet Valley vs No. 19 Amesbury
POTENTIAL UPSET: No. 13 Rockland over No. 4 Grafton