Foxboro was clearly the best in March.
Behind star players Camryn Collins and Kailey Sullivan, the Warriors won all five state tournament games by more than 20 points to claim the Div. 3 state title. Foxboro’s dominance was unmatched in any other division for boys or girls, giving them their second consecutive crown.
The Foxboro girls were not the only team to win a second straight championship in the 2023-24 season. Cathedral dominated the Div. 4 field for their second consecutive crown. The Panthers have achieved this three times in the last decade.
Malden Catholic demonstrated that their regular season struggles were just minor setbacks. They prevailed in four of their five contests to secure the Div. 2 state title for the third consecutive year. Somerset Berkley was the only team to challenge MC, narrowly missing out on a state final berth. The Raiders had a remarkable season, winning 20 games and defeating Mansfield in the Div. 2 state quarterfinals.
Somerset wasn't the only South Coast team that excelled. Wareham and Bourne competed in the Div. 4 State Final. After losing to Bourne in the regular season, the Vikings triumphed when it mattered most, with star AJ Lopes and forward Antoine Crossen leading Wareham to a second straight title.
In Div. 1, Worcester North showed its resilience. The Polar Bears dominated overtime to defeat Xaverian in the Div. 1 state semifinals and then overcame a 12-point deficit to beat Franklin and retain their Div. 1 state championship.
There were also remarkable achievements. Under the leadership of alum Hugh Coleman, Charlestown won its first state championship since 2005 by defeating Old Rochester. Coleman’s son, Jaylen, and his nephew, Jaylin Williams-Crawford, were key to the Townies' success.
Bishop Feehan girls achieved a notable victory during the state championship weekend. Less than a month after losing to Wachusett by 31 points, the Shamrocks got revenge by defeating the Mountaineers to win their first title since 2016. The weekend also saw impressive performances from underclassmen such as Medfield freshman Naya Annigeri, who scored 16 points to lead the Warriors to the Div. 2 state title with a win over Worcester South.
Hoosac Valley sent both its boys and girls teams to the state final. While Hoosac Valley’s girls emerged victorious, New Mission, like Charlestown, secured a Boston City League team trophy by defeating the Hurricanes, 57-49.
The MIAA State Tournament returned to UMass Boston. Fans enjoyed thrilling games, including Sharon boys’ last-second win and Worcester North's overtime victory against Xaverian. It was a welcome sight to see UMass Boston host the tournament again, bringing back memories of classic events from the past before a decade-long break from hosting. The Tsongas Center, Worcester State, and Taunton once again proved they are top venues for postseason games.
Marshfield had a very exciting game in the playoffs, defeating Lynn English 100-98 in overtime.
The state tournament suffered a tragedy when referee Don McGillicudy passed away from a heart attack in the final moments of Watertown’s state quarterfinal win. McGillicudy was highly respected by fellow officials, coaches, and administrators.
THREE COMPLAINTS
The Media has taken over press row at the state championship weekend, with many uncredentialed individuals giving their opinions and even trying to coach players from their seats. This unprofessional behavior should not be allowed if there are rules in place about who can be by the court.
The MIAA has lost control of press row, with uncredentialed individuals openly cheering, yelling at officials, and attempting to coach players from their seats on the floor. This behavior is unprofessional and should be addressed.
Accuracy of scores is still an issue, as teams fail to report their scores promptly, leading to inaccuracies and disputes in the final score. Accurate scorekeeping is essential, especially with the importance of margin of victory in overall team seeding.
It’s crucial for each team to keep thorough and confirmed books, and to agree on the final score with the opponent to ensure accurate scorekeeping. This is particularly important in the current climate, where the margin of victory plays a significant role in a team’s seeding.
Crack down on flopping by penalizing it with more block than charge calls early in games. Coaches are encouraging players to engage in this behavior, which is seen as cheap and dangerous, and officials should not reward it.
10 Teams to Watch Next Season
Malden Catholic
North Andover
Somerset Berkley
BC High
Lowell
Newton North
Foxboro's dominant performance led by Camryn Collins and Kailey Sullivan secured the Div. 3 state title, winning all five tournament games by over 20 points.
Burke
Cambridge
Pembroke
Attleboro
