The brackets are out for the MIAA state tournament and this year the Hockomock League will be sending nine of its 12 girls’ basketball teams to the playoffs. Here is a preview of each of the teams as they get ready to make a charge towards silverware this March.
Attleboro (14-7) - No. 7 seed in Div. 1 South, host No. 10 Needham in first round
The Bombardiers are back in the postseason for the third straight year and first under new head coach Rick Patch. Attleboro heads into the playoffs with momentum after five straight wins, including a 54-43 win at first round opponent Needham on the final night of the regular season. As has been their strength for the past few seasons, Attleboro are a physical, defensive team that will make it difficult for teams to get into their offense. Versatile defenders like Emily Houle, Sarah Deyo, and Kim Runey give Attleboro a lot of flexibility to jump between zone and man sets. Houle and Deyo have been constants on offense this season, but it will be the other players that will decide how far the Bombardiers can go. Junior point guard Fatima McDonald has progressed throughout the year and had maybe her best game in the finale against Needham with 16 points and 15 boards. Runey adds passing and outside shooting and the return of senior Kerry Beland from injury gives Attleboro another ball handler off the bench. The problem for the Bombardiers is the same that they faced last year -- if they win in the first round then they face a trip to in-town rival Bishop Feehan, who they haven’t beaten in several years and is one of the favorites to win the South.
Foxboro (18-2) - No. 3 seed in Div. 2 South, host No. 14 Milton in first round
It has been a dream season for the Warriors with 18 wins and the team’s first league title since 2003. In addition, by earning the third seed Foxboro avoids several of the sectional favorites (Duxbury, North Attleboro, and Westwood) until the South final. There are still some tough opponents on their side of the bracket, including undefeated Falmouth, but the Warriors will be happy to avoid the height of defending champs Duxbury until a later round. League MVP Kat Tamulionis is the headliner for the Warriors and her scoring will be even more important with the loss of Kristen Bortolotti for the rest of the season. In addition to Tamulionis, Foxboro will be hoping that junior Cassidy Harrison emerges as she did in last year’s playoff to be a consistent second scoring option. Freshmen Ashley Sampson and Lily Sykes have been sparkplugs off the bench on both ends of the floor and have both looked ready for the challenge of the tournament. Senior Kiersten Warner has also stepped up in recent games as an important leader on the floor. The key for Foxboro has been on the defensive end where a swarming, aggressive man-to-man defense has forced turnovers, gotten on the glass, and helped minimize the team’s lack of height. It’s already been a dream season, but there could be a lot more to come for Foxboro with a trip to the sectional final not out of the question.
Franklin (16-4) - No. 2 seed in Div. 1 Central, host winner of No. 7 Westford/No. 10 Algonquin
The Panthers tied for second in the Kelley-Rex this season and then took second in the end of season Westboro Tournament, without point guard Julianne Pisani in the final. Franklin looks poised to make a deep run in the tournament with an experienced lineup, but while plenty is known about the Panthers there is also plenty of mystery about many of their opponents from the Central. Lexi Martin was missing for last season’s tournament games and Franklin will be looking to the Merrimack-commit to be the star player in her final postseason. She has the talent to take over games and could be the biggest factor in how far the Panthers go. Martin will have plenty of help from classmate Jillian Spolidoro, who has become a dangerous and consistent threat from the outside and been one of Franklin’s leading scorers this season. The Pisani twins, Julianne and Tracy, are tenacious defenders and Julianne was the team’s primary scorer in Martin’s absence last year and could once again be a key factor on the offensive end. Junior Aubrie Kutil should also be a factor in giving the Panthers size on the post on both ends of the floor. Franklin coach John Leighton uses a deep rotation but expect that it will be a little smaller in the tournament and the top players will be counted on to get the Panthers over the hump and win a sectional title. It won’t be easy with talented teams like Westford Academy, Holy Name, and Lincoln-Sudbury on their side of the bracket and with top seed Wachusett looming for a potential final, but Franklin should be confident that it is battle-tested and ready for the tournament. A run to the sectional final would be the expectation for this team.
Mansfield (17-4) - No. 4 seed in Div. 1 South, hosts winner of No. 5 Marshfield/No. 12 Bridgewater-Raynham
The Hornets came so close to claiming a share of the league title only to fall on the road at rival Franklin to end up in a tie for second. Still, this has been a strong season for a young Mansfield roster and the Hornets should have a lot of confidence heading into the tournament on the back of 13 wins in the past 14 games. Sophomore point guard Jen Peel has been the key player for Mansfield and her ability to get into the lane opens things up for her own points or to find a bevy of shooters. Caroline Maher is a top scorer and has averaged double digits despite facing the opponent’s top defensive player every game and Jackie Carchedi, Alyssa Kelley, Jess Stoyle, and Jen Kemp are all athletic wing players that have contributed at various times this season. Freshman Meg Hill has progressed over the course of the season and is the missing piece that gives the Hornets an added dimension in the post. Mansfield feels like it may be a year away from challenging for the South title mostly because if the Hornets get through the opening game then they face defending champions and unquestioned best team in the state Braintree. Mansfield’s active, 2-3 zone has given teams problems all season and the Hornets have been one of the top defensive teams in the Hock, but shutting down the Wamps may be a bridge too far this year. Still a semifinal would be a solid finish with so many pieces returning for next season.
North Attleboro (15-5) - No. 5 seed in Div. 2 South, hosts No. 12 Oliver Ames
The Rocketeers won a third straight league title for the first time since the mid-80s and there is some pressure on the team to break the string of first round tournament exits. Each of the last two seasons, North has hosted a playoff game only to have the season end abruptly. Seniors Danielle Perron and Melissa Beaupre have established impressive legacies already with their play in the Hockomock, but they will be hoping to add tournament success to that as well. The seniors will be counting on help from a host of sophomores (Ashley Ahern, Julia Strachan, and Caroline Collard among others) to contribute on the offensive end of the floor. North tends to live and die by the three and if Ahern, Strachan, and Perron are knocking down shots then the Rocketeers can compete with anyone, but when they’re not then it can be a struggle in the halfcourt. North opens the playoffs, as it did last year, against a familiar foe. The Rocketeers won the first meeting with Oliver Ames 53-29 back in January and broke that game open in the second half. Defense will be the key with Beaupre at the point of the zone and Perron a constant threat in the passing lanes. If North forces turnovers and gets into transition then it could be a comfortable win and chance to face Westwood. Duxbury will be the team to beat in the sectional, but the Rocketeers will be hoping that this is a season to challenge for silverware outside the league.
Oliver Ames (12-8) - No. 12 seed in Div. 2 South, at No. 5 North Attleboro
Every season, Tigers coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook says that she just wants her team to reach the tournament and then OA can surprise some people and make some noise. Unfortunately for OA, like last year, in order to make some noise it’s going to take a road upset against a league opponent. Last winter the Tigers nearly knocked off Sharon in the second round and this year OA travels to three-time league champ North Attleboro with hopes of an upset. OA will lean on super sophomore Francesca Calabraro, the team’s leading scorer, but to beat North the Tigers will also need all-star performances from senior forwards Meg Hurley and Mackenzie Webster, who will be tasked with keeping tabs on Melissa Beaupre. Point guards Shannon Holleran and Sam Bamford will also need to handle the pressure of North’s zone (highlighted above) and limit turnovers, which have been a problem at times this season. The Tigers have shown spurts this season of being able to compete with the best in D2, it’s just unlucky that they get paired with a team that won’t be surprised by their talent. A first round upset is possible and if the Tigers get by North then we could see them play for a while.