BRACKET BREAKDOWN: MIAA announces boys and girls high school basketball tournament field
March Madness is finally here.
The MIAA announced the high school basketball and hockey tournament pairings on Saturday.
Cape Cod will be represented by eight boys basketball teams and nine girls basketball.
Div. 4 on the girls side has the most local flavor. Mashpee and Bourne are both ranked high in Div. 4. The Bourne boys are the highest-ranked team on Cape Cod, coming in at No. 4 in Div. 3.
More: BRACKET BREAKDOWN: MIAA announces boys and girls high school hockey tournament field
BOYS
Division 1
The Field
Catholic Memorial
Lawrence
Franklin
Central Catholic
Needham
North High
Newton North
Andover
North Andover
Lynn English
Beverly
Xaverian
BC High
Brockton
Taunton
Natick
Waltham
Attleboro
Methuen
Lowell
Peabody Veterans
Bishop Feehan
St. John's Prep
New Bedford
Springfield Central
Arlington
Wellesley
St. John's
Brookline
Weymouth
King Philip
Winchester
Durfee
Hingham
Lexington
Hopkinton
Chelmsford
Doherty
Reading
Marshfield
Milford
Cambridge Rindge & Latin
Putnam Votech
Medford
Malden
Algonquin
Everett
Concord-Carlisle
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 10 Lynn English
Best first-round game: No. 35 Lexington at No. 30 Weymouth (preliminary round)
Upset pick: No. 41 Milford over No. 24 New Bedford (preliminary round)
Division 2
The Field
Malden Catholic
Mansfield
Sharon
Shepherd Hill
Charlestown
Nashoba Regional
Pope Francis
Wakefield Memorial
Foxboro
Marblehead
North Quincy
Dartmouth
West Springfield
Canton
Salem
Scituate
Middleboro
Longmeadow
Burlington
Walpole
Bedford
Whitman-Hanson
Pembroke
Norwood
Leominster
Fitchburg
Plymouth South
Tewksbury
Westwood
South High
Grafton
Northampton
Somerset Berkley
Newburyport
Melrose
Duxbury
Amherst-Pelham
Revere
Nauset
Chicopee Comp.
Ludlow
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 1 Malden Catholic
Best first-round game: No. 39 Nauset at No. 26 Fitchburg (preliminary round)
Upset pick: No. 21 Bedford over No. 12 Dartmouth
When/where do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 39 Nauset at No. 26 Fitchburg (preliminary round)
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 39 Nauset - Underdog: The Warriors will be making a 145-mile trip to Fitchburg hoping to come home with an upset,
Division 3
The Field
Archbishop Williams
St. Mary’s
Old Rochester Reg.
Cardinal Spellman
Pittsfield
Dover Sherborn
Tech Boston Academy
Oakmont Reg.
Hanover
Norwell
Boston Latin Academy
Hudson
New Mission
Martha’s Vineyard
Apponequet Reg.
Seekonk
Saugus
Dedham
Norton
Gloucester
Bishop Stang
English High
Tantasqua Reg.
Abington
Greater Lowell Tech
Medway
Lowell Catholic
Greater New Bedford
Arlington Catholic
Groton-Dunstable
East Boston
Watertown
Rockland
Lynnfied
East Bridgewater
Worcester Tech
Shawsheen Valley Tech
Belchertown
Weston
Nipmuc Reg.
North Reading
Auburn
Bristol Plymouth RVT
Montechusett RVT
Essex North Shore
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 1 Archbishop Williams
Best first-round game: No. 19 Norton at No. 14 Martha's Vineyard
Upset pick: No. 18 Dedham over No. 15 Apponequet
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 19 Norton at No. 14 Martha's Vineyard
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 14 Martha's Vineyard - Contender: Div. 3 has some heavyweight hitters at the top of the field. The Vineyarders landed in one of the more wide-open quadrants of the bracket.
Division 4
The Field
Wareham
Burke
Springfield International Charter
Bourne
Millbury
Clinton
Randolph
Cathedral
Manchester Essex
West Bridgewater
Monument Mountain
Waconah Reg.
Georgetown
South Hadley
Tyngsborough
Fenway
Carver
Lynn Vo-Tech
Lunenburg
Nantucket
Uxbridge
Cape Cod Academy
Whitinsville Christian
Bay Path RVT Bartlett
Bartlett
Snowden International
Northbridge
Oxford
Whittier RVT
Cohasset
Blue Hills RVT
Winthrop
Mahar Reg.
Blackstone Valley RVT
Maimonides School
Frontier Reg.
Southwick Reg.
Saint Joseph’s Prep
Bethany Christian
Notre Dame Christo Rey
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 4 Bourne
Best first-round game: No. 20 Nantucket at No. 13 Georgetown
Upset pick: No. 22 Cape Cod Academy over No. 11 Monument Mountain
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 20 Nantucket at No. 13 Georgetown
No. 36 Frontier/No. 29 Whittier winner at No. 4 Bourne
No. 22 Cape Cod Academy at No. 11 Monument Mountain
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 4 Bourne - Favorite: The Canalmen are on the short list of state-title contenders in Div. 4. There's potential for third meeting with No. 1 Wareham. Fingers crossed we get that matchup again.
No. 20 Nantucket - Underdog: The Whalers have a long journey to Georgetown for a road game in the Round of 32.
No. 22 Cape Cod Academy - Contender: CCA got a good draw in the tournament, so don't be shocked if this club goes on another tournament run.
Division 5
The Field
Taconic
David Prouty
Hopedale
Pioneer Valley
Maynard
Westport
Hopkins Academy
Sutton
Hoosac Valley
Roxbury Prep
Salem Academy Charter
Greenfield
KIPP Academy
Holbrook
Academy of the Pacific Rim
Gardner
Paulo Friere
Quaboag
Calvary Chapel Academy
Drury
Duggan Academy
Mount Greylock
Douglas
Granby
Mystic Valley
Saint Bernard's
Ayer Shirley
Hull
Keefe Tech
Millis
Mount Everett
Lenox
Tahanto
Neighborhood House
Innovation Academy
Boston Prep
Athol
Smith Academy
Old Colony
McCann Tech
Upper Cape Tech
Atlantis Charter
Bromfield
Prospect Hill
Pioneer Charter
Smith Tech
Cape Cod Tech
Pathfinder
South Lancaster Academy
Abby Kelley Foster
Falmouth Academy
Rising Tide
St. Mary Parish
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: David Prouty
Best first-round game: No. 38 Smith Academy at No. 27 Ayer Shirley
Upset pick: No. 51 Falmouth Academy over No. 14 Holbrook
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 41 Upper Cape Tech at No. 24 Granby (preliminary round)
No. 51 Falmouth Academy at No. 14 Holbrook (preliminary round)
No. 47 Cape Cod Tech at No. 18 Quaboag (preliminary round
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 41 Upper Cape Tech - Underdog: The Rams will be a tough out, but there's no easy road for a No. 41 seed to go on a deep tournament run.
No. 47 Cape Cod Tech - Underdog: The Crusaders have won a lot of games, so this squad won't exit the tournament without a fight.
No. 51 Falmouth Academy - Underdog: Falmouth Academy knows how to win games with an 11-5 record. No. 14 Holbrook (16-4) is a tough draw.
GIRLS
Division 1
The Field
Andover
Bishop Feehan
Woburn
Wachusett
Brookline
Framingham
Bridgewater-Raynham
North Andover
Lexington
Newton North
Winchester
Springfield Central
Chelmsford
Lincoln-Sudbury
Franklin
Belmont
Central Catholic
Newton South
Needham
Wellesley
Attleboro
Methuen
Mansfield
Reading Memorial
Weymouth
Durfee
Quincy
New Bedford
Algonqin
Peabody
Marshfield
Acton-Boxboro
King Philip
Plymouth North
Waltham
Lynn Classical
Brockton
Doherty
Lynn English
Everett
Malden
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 1 Andover
Best first-round game: No. 23 Mansfield at No. 10 Newton North
Upset pick: No. 37 Brockton over No. 28 New Bedford (preliminary round)
Division 2
The Field
Walpole
Medfield
Wakefield
Westwood
Foxboro
Dracut
Newburyport
Pentucket
Norwood
Wayland
Nashoba Regional
South High
Chicopee
Whitman-Hanson
Billerica
Amherst-Pelham
Tewskbury
Oliver Ames
Leominster
Shepherd Hill
Hanover
Westboro
Masconomet
Holyoke
Ashland
Burlington
Notre Dame Academy (Hingham)
Holliston
Dartmouth
Grafton
Bedford
Longmeadow
Northampton
Pembroke
Dighton-Rehoboth
Middleboro
Somerset Berkley
Marlboro
Ursuline
Falmouth
Minnechaug
Marblehad
Agawam
High School of Commerce
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 5 Foxboro
Best first-round game: No. 19 Leominster at No. 14 Whitman-Hanson
Upset pick: No. 36 Middleboro over No. 29 Dartmouth (preliminary round)
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 40 Falmouth at No. 25 Ashland (preliminary round)
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 40 Falmouth - Underdog: The Clippers certainly have a chance to upset No. 25 Ashland in the preliminary round. No. 8 Pentucket is a tough matchup for either team in the Round of 32.
Division 3
The Field
St. Mary's of Lynn
Norwell
Bishop Fenwick
Rockland
Dover-Sherborn
Norton
Hudson
Medway
North Reading
Fontbonne
Archbishop Williams
Tantasqua
Bishop Stang
Watertown
Pittsfield
Sandwich
East Bridgewater
Stoneham
Oakmont
Dennis-Yarmouth
Abington
Saugus
Greater Lowell Tech
Arlington Catholic
Nipmuc Regional
Auburn
Dedham
Lynnfield
Apponequet
Quabbin
Diman
Ipswich
Belchertown
AMSA
Lowell Catholic
Shawsheen Valley Tech
Southeastern
Putnam
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 1 St. Mary's of Lynn
Best first-round game: No. 17 East Bridgewater at No. 16 Sandwich
Upset pick: No. 20 Dennis-Yarmouth over No. 13 Bishop Stang
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 20 Dennis-Yarmouth at No. 13 Bishop Stang
No. 17 East Bridgewater at No. 16 Sandwich
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 16 Sandwich - Underdog: The Blue Knights are surging heading into the tournament, but if they can get past EB, top-seeded St. Mary's is likely awaiting in the Round of 16.
No. 20 Dennis-Yarmouth - Underdog: The Dolphins are hoping to pull off an upset or two.
Division 4
The Field
Cathedral
Tyngsboro
Wahconah
Notre Dame Academy (Worcester)
Cohasset
Malden Catholic
Littleton
Mashpee
Case
Millbury
Bourne
Winthrop
Manchester Essex
Easthampton
Northbridge
South Hadley
Pope Francis
Uxbridge
Blackstone Valley Tech
Blue Hills
Monomoy
Hamilton-Wenham
Frontier
West Bridgewater
Bay Path
Mahar
TechBoston
Monument Mountain
Southwick
New Mission
Clinton
Hampshire Regionall
Lynn Tech
Fenway
Maimonides
Matignon
Fellowship Christian Academy
South Lancaster Academy
Pioneer Valley Christian
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 1 Cathedral
Best first-round game: No. 21 Monomoy at No. 12 Winthrop
Upset pick: No. 21 Monomoy over No. 12 Winthrop
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 25 Bay Path at No. 8 Mashpee
No. 21 Monomoy at No. 12 Winthrop
No. 22 Hamilton-Wenham at No. 11 Bourne
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 8 Mashpee - Contender: The Falcons are the highest-ranked girls team on Cape Cod. Behind great guard play from Hialeah Turner Foster and Amiyah Peters, the Falcons are definitely capable of going on a run.
No. 11 Bourne - Contender: The Canalwomen are in a wide-open quadrant in the bracket. Hamilton-Wenham is a tough opponent that can't be overlooked though.
No. 21 Monomoy - Underdog: The Sharks have shown they're capable of pulling off some big upsets. Monomoy will be a tough out.
Division 5
The Field
Millis
Springfield International Charter
Sutton
Hoosac Valley
Georgetown
Westport
West Boylston
Palmer
Maynard
Tahanto
Ayer Shirley
Quaboag
Lenox
Carver
Taconic
Saint Bernard's
Franklin County Tech
Hopeale
Minuteman
Hull
Old Colony
South Shore Tech
Drury
Monson
Prospect Hill
Gardner
Saint John Paul II
Upper Cape Tech
Academy of the Pacific Rim
Renaissance School
Whitinsville Christian
Pioner Valley
Salem Academy
Nasboba Valley
Turners Falls
Norfolk Aggie
Avon
Neighborhood House
Cape Cod Tech
St. Mary's Parish (Westfield)
Boston United
Innovation Academy
Boston Collegiate Charter
Mount Alvernia
Brigjton
Hampden Charter East
Baystate Academy
Bracket breakdown
State champ prediction: No. 3 Sutton
Best first-round game: No. 37 Avon at No. 28 Upper Cape Tech
Upset pick: No. 36 Norfolk Aggie over No. 29 Academy of the Pacific Rim
Who do the Cape Cod locals play?
No. 37 Avon at No. 28 Upper Cape Tech (preliminary round)
No. 38 Neighborhood House at No. 27 Saint John Paul II (preliminary round)
No. 39 Cape Cod Tech at No. 26 Gardner (preliminary round)
Favorite, contender or underdog?
No. 27 Saint John Paul II - Underdog: The Lions went 15-4 in the regular season, so they know how to win games.
No. 28 Upper Cape Tech - Underdog: The Rams will get to host a preliminary-round game. If they advance, a trip to No. 5 Georgetown will be a tall order.
No. 39 Cape Cod Tech - Underdog: No. 7 West Boylston awaits the winner of Cape Cod Tech and Gardner.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: MIAA high school boys and girls basketball tournament pairings
