Boys lacrosse: St. John’s Prep could see Duxbury again

A potential rematch with Duxbury in the Div. 1 final awaits second-seeded St. John’s Prep after the boys lacrosse tournament pairings were announced on Friday.The Prep (16-2) opens its quest for a state title with a first round game at a date to be determined against either 15th-seeded Waltham (11-8) or 18th-seeded North Quincy (15-5), who on Wednesday.Three-time defending state champion Duxbury (19-1) is the top seed. The Dragons defeated the Eagles, 13-12, in the state final last year.The Prep’s other nemesis, Billerica (18-2), is the 4th seed and is also in the other half of the bracket and would play Duxbury in the Div. 1 semifinals. The Indians ousted the Eagles in the semifinals in 2008 and in the quarterfinals in 2007.In Div. 2, Marblehead (13-5) is the 12th seed and returns to the tournament after a 1-year hiatus. The Magicians open with a preliminary round game on Tuesday (7) against 21st-seeded Wayland at Piper Field.”We don’t know much about them, but they come from a good (Dual County) League,” Marblehead coach John Wilkens said. “The kids, especially the seniors, are excited about having a game at home.”The Magicians are coming off a tough loss for the Northeastern Conference championship to 7th-seeded Beverly (15-5), which will open the tournament on Wednesday (5) at home against 26th-seeded Whitman-Hanson (10-8).Danvers (12-8) is the 20th seed and travels to 13th-ranked Falmouth 13-5) on Wednesday (5).Defending Div. 2 champion Walpole (16-3) is the 5th-seed. Hingham (16-4) is the top seed in the EMass bracket.Lynnfield (13-4) drew the 17th seed in Div. 3 and travels to 16th-seeded Hanover (9-9) for a preliminary round game on Tuesday. The Pioneers lost to Hanover, 18-3, in the first round last year.Swampscott (7-11) is the 25th seed and will head north to play 8th-seeded Newburyport (14-2) in a preliminary round game on Tuesday (5). The good news for the Big Blue is they won’t have to face two-time defending state champ Scituate, which has knocked out Swampscott along the way both times. The Sailors did not qualify for the tournament this year.