Andover just wants one more win

Andover has the pieces to flip the script a year after falling just short of a state title.

Highlighted by the duo of Anna Foley and Amelia Hanscom, the undefeated Golden Warriors enter the Div. 1 tournament as the favorite.

A potential rematch of last year’s final looms in the state semifinals as defending champion No. 12 Springfield Central is capable of a deep run.

Second-seeded Bishop Feehan gave Andover all it could handle in the opening round of the IAABO Board 27 Comcast Tournament a week ago and is a candidate to reach the final four. Woburn saw its quest for an undefeated campaign end the final day of the regular season but still is the tournament field’s No. 3 overall seed.

If chalk holds, a terrific matchup may come in the Round of 16 between annual powers No. 10 Newton North and No. 7 Bridgewater-Raynham. Eighth seeded North Andover and No. 11 Winchester are dark horses.

Div. 2 has two clear threats in No. 1 Walpole and second-seeded Medfield. The Warriors’ Kate Olenik may be the best player in Eastern Mass.

Elsewhere in Div. 2, Lisa Downs’ Foxboro group is poised for another deep run while No. 6 Dracut has superstar Ashlee Talbot. Whitman-Hanson won the Patriot League Keenan title and could make noise as the No. 14 seed.

Jeff Newhall’s St. Mary’s team in Div. 3 looks to be the favorite again, but faces a challenge from secondseeded Norwell (18-2, including a win late in the season over No. 5 DoverSherborn). The Spartans’ Catholic Central League rival, Bishop Fenwick, is hoping for a third go as the top seed.

Seventh-seeded Hudson finished white-hot including taking home the Central Mass. Class B Championship.

Cathedral looks like the team to beat in Div. 4 as evidenced by its late season win over Div. 3 contender Dracut. If the two sides win their opening games, No. 11 Bourne and No. 6 Malden Catholic would make for a fun quarterfinal matchup. Fifth-seeded Cohasset is a team to watch. The Skippers enter the tournament winners of their final five including over the Lancers.

Mills may be 12-8 but they enter the Div. 5 field as the top overall seed due to their strong schedule. Georgetown and Hoosac Valley would make for an entertaining state quarterfinal if they can each hold serve in the early rounds.

DIV. 1

CHAMPION: Andover

RUNNER-UP: Bishop Feehan SLEEPER: Springfield Central FINAL FOUR: Andover, Woburn, Bishop Feehan, Springfield Central

BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH:

Mansfield at Newton North POTENTIAL UPSET: Newton South over Franklin

DIV. 2

CHAMPION: Walpole

RUNNER-UP: Medfield

SLEEPER: Whitman-Hanson

FINAL FOUR: Walpole, Medfield, Foxborough, Dracut

BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH:

Oliver Ames at Billerica POTENTIAL UPSET: Tewksbury over Amherst-Pelham

DIV. 3

CHAMPION: St. Mary’s

RUNNER-UP: Norwell

SLEEPER: Hudson

FINAL FOUR: St. Mary’s, Norwell, Norton, Rockland

BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH: Arlington Catholic at North Reading

POTENTIAL UPSET: DennisYarmouth over Bishop Stang

DIV. 4

CHAMPION: Cathedral

RUNNER-UP: Wahconah

SLEEPER: Bourne

FINAL FOUR: Cathedral, Tyngsborough, Cohasset, Malden Catholic

BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH:

Monomoy at Winthrop POTENTIAL UPSET: None

DIV. 5

CHAMPION: Millis

RUNNER-UP: Sutton

SLEEPER: Carver

FINAL FOUR: Millis, Springfield Int’l Charter, Sutton, Hoosac Valley

BEST FIRST ROUND MATCH:

Franklin County Tech at St. Bernard’s

POTENTIAL UPSET:

None