After two-plus months of winter sports action, it all comes down to the next few weeks.
The MIAA released its state tournament brackets for boys and girls basketball, as well as boys and girls hockey on Saturday. Twenty-eight local teams remain.
Here are some local observations and a complete schedule:
St. Mary’s boys, Bishop Fenwick girls receive top seeds
With first-year coach Josh Keilty at the helm, St. Mary’s boys basketball team (19-3) received the top spot in Division 2. Leading the way have been Rolky Brea Arias, Jake Fortier, John Chareas, Rowan Merryman, and Gabriel Makuwa-Sykes — a sharpshooting, unselfish group. The Spartans, Friday inside of the Tony C. Gymnasium, host No. 32 Minnechaug (9-11) or No. 33 Somerville (13-7).
Behind the dynamic duo of Celia Neilson and Caitlin Boyle — both of whom threaten with double-doubles on a nightly basis — the Fenwick girls sit atop Division 3. The Crusaders, commanded by veteran coach Adam DeBaggis, sport a 15-5 record and tip off against No. 32 Wilmington or No. 33 Southeastern Tech (TBD).
St. John’s Prep icemen eye another run
After a double-overtime heartbreaker in last year’s Round of 8, St. John’s recently capped off a 15-3-2 regular season — good for the No. 3 seed. Even better news for Eagles fans: The group is red hot. After a three-game losing streak in January, The Prep rattled off 11 consecutive wins with 53 goals scored. Coach Kristian Hanson and company host No. 30 Franklin on Wednesday at 4:20 p.m.
Saugus returns to postseason, but Salem awaits
After failing to qualify last season, Saugus’ boys basketball team has returned to the Division 3 bracket. Better yet, the No. 31 Sachems received a home game, to be played Wednesday against No. 34 Lowell Catholic beginning at 6 p.m. If Saugus wins, coach Joe Bertrand and company battle top-ranked Salem (19-2) on Saturday night (6 p.m.).
A busy Division 1 in girls hockey
No. 2 St. Mary’s, No. 25 Bishop Fenwick, and No. 27 Winthrop look to make runs in Division 1. You could say the Spartans (17-3-2) have the best path with home ice at Connery Rink, while the Crusaders and Vikings begin as underdogs in their respective openers. The Spartans faced top-ranked Notre Dame (Hingham) once during the regular season and lost 2-0. St. Mary’s split the regular season with No. 4 Bishop Feehan and settled for 1-0-1 against No. 5 Archbishop Williams.
Swampscott, Lynn Classical are Division 3 threats
In boys basketball, No. 4 Swampscott (16-4) and No. 6 Classical (17-3) received top-10 spots in Division 3. Unfortunately for fans, they’re on opposite sides of the bracket after meeting twice during the regular season. With home games this week, Swampscott coach Jason Knowles and Classical’s Marvin Avery bring defensive pride to the gym.
LOCAL SCHEDULE
BOYS BASKETBALL
Division 2
No. 32 Minnechaug/No. 33 Somerville at No. 1 St. Mary’s (Friday at 6 p.m.)
No. 20 Marblehead at No. 13 Doherty Memorial (Friday at 6:30 p.m.)
Division 3
No. 29 Nantucket/No. 36 Oakmont at No. 4 Swampscott (TBD)
No. 27 Dighton-Rehoboth/No. 38 North Middlesex at No. 6 Lynn Classical (Friday at 7 p.m.)
No. 48 Ludlow at No. 17 Lynnfield (TBD)
No. 34 Lowell Catholic at No. 31 Saugus (Wednesday at 6 p.m.)
Division 4
No. 26 Amesbury/No. 39 Hampshire Regional at No. 7 Lynn Tech (TBD)
No. 43 Smith Vocational and Agricultural at No. 22 Winthrop (Tuesday at 6 p.m.)
Division 5
No. 30 Collegiate Charter School of Lowell/No. 35 Keefe Tech at No. 3 KIPP Academy (TBD)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Division 1
No. 34 Medford at No. 31 Peabody (Tuesday at 6 p.m.)
No. 35 Revere at No. 30 Central Catholic (Tuesday at 6 p.m.)
Division 2
No. 30 Burlington/No. 35 Middleboro at No. 3 St. Mary’s (Thursday at 6 p.m.)
No. 38 Marblehead at No. 27 Notre Dame Academy – Hingham (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.)
Division 3
No. 32 Wilmington/No. 33 Southeastern Tech at No. 1 Bishop Fenwick (TBD)
No. 17 Watertown at No. 16 Lynnfield (TBD)
No. 34 Tantasqua Regional Senior at No. 31 Swampscott (Wednesday at 7 p.m.)
No. 41 Lynn Classical at No. 24 Falmouth (Tuesday at 5 p.m.)
Division 4
No. 34 Lynn Tech at No. 31 Blackstone-Millville (Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.)
Division 5
No. 37 KIPP Academy at No. 28 Atlantis Charter (Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.)
BOYS HOCKEY
Division 1
No. 30 Franklin at No. 3 St. John’s Prep (Wednesday at 4:20 p.m.)
No. 23 Bishop Feehan at No. 10 St. Mary’s (Wednesday at 8 p.m.)
Division 3
No. 24 North Quincy at No. 9 Essex Tech (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.)
No. 17 Lynnfield at No. 16 Blackstone Valley Tech (Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.)
Division 4
No. 28 Rockport at No. 5 Winthrop (Wednesday at 6:10 p.m.)
GIRLS HOCKEY
Division 1
No. 31 Framingham at No. 2 St. Mary’s (Wednesday at 6 p.m.)
No. 25 Bishop Fenwick at No. 8 Bishop Stang (Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.)
No. 27 Winthrop at No. 6 Methuen (Wednesday at 5 p.m.)
Division 2
No. 30 Marblehead at No. 3 Duxbury (Wednesday at 5:20 p.m.)
