PHOTO GALLERY: Mansfield Boys' Hoops tops Everett at TD Garden

Photos by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

BOSTON - We already have a full recap of Mansfield's big win over Everett Monday night at the TD Garden, which you can check out here.

But now, continue below for some great shots of the game, courtesy of our Eamon Convey. Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

John DiBiaso Scores 500th Career Win on Hardwood as Everett Tops Chelmsford

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Everett, Mass. – John DiBiaso has accomplished nearly every milestone imaginable on the football field, but on Thursday night he added one to his hardwood resume. 

Ghared Boyce scored 30 points to lead No. 1 Everett past No. 17 Chelmsford, 66-46, to give DiBiaso his 500^th career win as the Crimson Tide’s basketball head coach.

DiBiaso is the only coach in Massachusetts’ history to win 300 football games and 500 in another. He has 252 wins as the Crimson Tide’s football coach to go with 11 Super Bowl titles.

National Recruit Lewis Cine leaves Everett Football for Texas; Talks former Coach John DiBiaso & College Decision

Lewis Cine, the most highly regarded Massachusetts recruit in the Class of 2019, led a dominant Everett defense last season, but will move to Texas to finish out his high school career.    Photo by Joe Parello.

By Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

Everett High School has become synonymous with excellence as far as Massachusetts high school football is concerned.

The Crimson Tide have won the last two MIAA Division 1 state championships, and have been one of the state's premier programs for the last quarter century, capturing 11 Super Bowl titles and over 250 wins under coach John DiBiaso the past 26 seasons.

However, after DiBiaso announced his retirement, then his decision to take the head coaching position at Catholic Memorial, many questions surround the program going into the 2018 season.

Now, one player the Tide were undoubtedly counting on to help bridge the gap in the coming year has decided to take his talents south to the Lone Star State, as four-star defensive back Lewis Cine made his intentions to transfer known this past weekend.

MIAA Boys' Basketball Top 25 Poll: Week 10

Franklin (blue) and Mansfield (white) continue to climb in our poll, as the Panthers knocked off previously unbeaten Tech Boston, led by 31 points from sophomore Chris Edgehill (No.3, pictured). The Hornets, meanwhile, defeated a loaded Brockton squad to move into our Top-5. Not a bad week for these Hockomock rivals.    Photo by Eamon Convey

Our latest rankings of the best boys' hoops teams in Massachusetts, as selected by our team of editors and correspondents. Records are accurate as of 2/20/18.

MIAA Basketball Top 25 Poll: Week 9

Mansfield is flying high in the Hockomock Kelly-Rex after a big win over Franklin.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

Our weekly rankings of the best high school basketball teams in Massachusetts, as selected by our team of editors and correspondents.


1. Tech Boston (13-0; Last Week - 1) Bears will look to finish spotless in Boston City League play this week, before having a chance to prove themselves once again against Division 1 powers this weekend in Franklin.

MIAA Basketball: 2017-2018 Midseason All-State Team

Newton North's Ethan Wright (left) and Needham's Thomas Shaughnessy have been among the best players in Massachusetts the past few seasons..

By SuiteSports Staff

In the blink of an eye, the MIAA basketball season has reached its halfway point.

Some teams are at the point where they can jockey for tournament seeding, hoping to receive a pair of home games to start their quest a state championship. Others, meanwhile, are hoping to win just the amount of games necessary down the stretch to qualify in order to put them in the mix.

All the while, star players across Massachusetts are making their mark on high school hoops this season.

Below is SuiteSports’ midseason MIAA Basketball All-state Team and Award Winners. If your favorite player didn't make the cut, fear not. There is a LOT of basketball left to be played.

Everett, Cambridge, Burke, Brookline, Watertown, & Bishop Stang Get Wins at BABC Holiday Classic

BOSTON - The holidays are over, but the gift of winning for Cambridge is still ongoing.

As part of the BABC Holiday Classic at Cathedral High School on Wednesday, the Falcons picked up their 49th consecutive victory, knocking off Portsmouth (NH), 48-46.

Cambridge forward Khai Smith dominated in the paint throughout the contest, finishing with 16 points and 20 rebounds.

The Falcons held a seemingly insurmountable 34-13 lead at the half and seemed well on their way to another blowout victory.

Portsmouth, however, changed their approach in the second half and came out in a 2-1-2 zone in order to slow the game down.

Our 2017 MIAA Football Award Winners

By SuiteSports Staff

After another exciting year of Massachusetts high school football, SuiteSports.com and its panel of high school correspondents are excited to announce our MIAA Football award winners.

While a bevy of players stood out this season, including all who made our second annual All-State Team, these stood above the rest due to their production and value to their teams, both during the regular season and in the state tournament.

This group helped their respective programs reach new heights, and excelled as individuals, on and off the field.

So, at long last, here are this year’s SuiteSports MIAA Football Award Winners.

MIAA Football Top 25: The End of 2017

Our final rankings of the best MIAA football teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 12/5)

1. Everett (12-0; Last Ranking – 1) One of the greatest teams in state history, the Crimson Tide wrapped up back-to-back state titles with another convincing win, handling Xaverian 35-10 in the nightcap Saturday at Gillette Stadium. While other teams had great seasons, Everett as our statewide No. 1 was a no-brainer, given the Tide's year-long dominance, and sheer level of talent across the board.

PHOTO GALLERY: Everett vs Xaverian at Gillette

Photos By Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

FOXBOROUGH - You can read a full recap of Everett's D1 state championship win over Xaverian here, but here are some awesome images of the title game from our Eamon Convey.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Everett Pulls Away from Xaverian for Back-to-Back Division 1 Titles

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

FOXBOROUGH - For Everett, Saturday night was a perfect ending to a perfect season.

Jake Willcox threw for 185 and two touchdowns while Anthony Norcia compiled 124 yards receiving as Everett defeated Xaverian, 35-10, to win the Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

The Crimson Tide (12-0) went into the half holding their smallest halftime lead of the season at 14-10.

As it did all season long, Everett, in the blink of an eye, left its opponent in the dust.

Xs & Os: Everett Uses "Sluggo" to Pull Away from Xaverian

By John Sarianides (@xnojoe)

FOXBOROUGH - For the first time this season, Everett failed to go into the half with a double-digit lead.

Early on in Saturday night's Division 1 state championship game at Gillette Stadium, Xaverian did a great job of running the ball, keeping Jake Willcox and the explosive Crimson Tide offense off the field for much of the first half.

Previewing The MIAA State Football Championships: Divisions 1 & 8

Can Everett capture a second state title in a row? The Tide has plenty of new faces since last year, but still plenty of championship caliber talent.

 By SuiteSports Staff

We finish our series of MIAA state championship previews with the largest and smallest divisions in the Commonwealth. For any of our past previews, click below, and continue on for breakdowns of Everett vs Xaverian and Hoosac Valley vs Millis.

Divisions 2 & 3
Divisions 4 & 7
Divisions 5 & 6

Four Teams Face the Challenge of Repeating as State Champions This Weekend

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

For seniors playing their final high school game, there is no better feeling.

The Gatorade shower they provide to their coach, the trophy they are presented, and finally the Super Bowl rings they are given in the spring all cap off a memorable four-year career.

While those seniors head off their separate ways in the fall, those that followed their leadership are hoping for something better.

The juniors, sophomores, and even freshman that were too an integral part of that Super Bowl run, now are on the road to solidifying that the championship was not a one-off event. Rather, that it was just the beginning of a program putting itself firmly on the MIAA football landscape.

There may be no more challenging feat to accomplish in high school sports than repeating as state champions.

Over the course of one season any team, a favorite or perhaps even a sleeper, may emerge talented and experienced enough for one shot at a state championship.

Come the next season, however, they no longer fly under the radar, and now carry a much bolder title next to their school name – "Defending state champion."

No longer are they a team to beat simply because of the conference they play in, or their history as a program, but because they own something that everyone else wants.

They are guaranteed to get everyone’s best shot.

Everett Starts Fast and Hangs On to Down Central Catholic in D1 North Final

From Left: Jacob Miller, Helber, Dwayne Binns, Anthony Norcia, Jason Maitre, Jaden Mahabir pose with the MIAA Division 1 North championship trophy.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

Some say that repeating as a state champion is the hardest feat to accomplish in high school sports. So far to date, that has not been the case for Everett.

On a frigid night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the Crimson Tide offense fired on all cylinders as quarterback Jake Willcox threw four first half touchdown passes to lead No. 3 Everett to a 37-29 win over No.1 Central Catholic in the Division 1 North Sectional Final.

The Crimson Tide will now look to defend their Division 1 crown when they take on Xaverian in a rematch of last years Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium on December 2nd.

Willcox (17-for-26, 308 yards, 4 TDs) played behind Jordan McAfee a season ago and noted how special it is to be the focal point this time around.

Asked and Answered: Your MIAA Sports Mailbag, 11/7

St. John's (Shrewsbury) is the school I get asked about most... For some reason.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Whenever somebody finds out that I (sorta) cover sports for a living, they always have a bunch of questions.

After I tell them that I cover high school and college, don't know Tom Brady, and can't get them any tickets, they usually start asking me the same four or five questions that are filling my mentions on Twitter and inbox on Gmail. Those usual questions change with the season and circumstance, but here we are with the MIAA football playoffs in full swing, and I find myself getting asked four questions all the time.

But no more, because now every time I notice similar questions from you, our fine readers, I am going to do a mailbag and explain my feelings on the biggest MIAA sports issues of the day.

Now, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy novel questions, so if you have something you would like to see answered in a future mailbag, hit me up on Twitter @HerewegoJoe, or via email at jparello86@gmail.com.

Off we go.

Ed. Note- All questions are actually just me condensing numerous similar questions from multiple readers into one (semi) coherent thought.

Your MIAA Football Playoffs Weekend Review: The Sectional Semifinals

Catholic Memorial and BC High played one of the most memorable playoff games in recent memory Friday night, with a controversial call and a Hail Mary lifting the Knights to victory.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

There is no question that the MIAA playoff system has flaws. Most notable among them are too many teams, too many divisions, and for some, a lack of importance now placed on winning the league.

This past weekend, however, portrayed the system’s outstanding benefits.

Teams playing for a spot in the sectional finals battled it out, with some playing against conference foes, while others faced off against teams for the first time.

Memorable endings, top performances, controversy, and wild finishes engulfed the weekend.

Now it is on to the sectional finals, where some enticing matchups will be played.

We will preview some of those sectional finals later in the week, but before we do that let’s take a look back at what was a wild weekend of sectional semifinals.

PHOTO GALLERY: Everett Tops Lexington in D1 North Football Semifinals

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Things were even early, as a Sal Frelick touchdown pass drew the host Minutemen even with favored Everett at 14 in the second quarter. But it would be all Crimson Tide after that.

Thanks to a swarming defense, play making offense, and some opportunistic special teams, Everett scoring 35 unanswered points to walk out of Lexington with a 49-21 victory, and a trip to the Division 1 North sectional finals.

Continue below for images from the Tide's big win over the previously unbeaten Minutemen, and note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

SuiteSports' MIAA Football Player of the Year Watch List: 11/3

Steven Bucciaglia is putting up monster numbers, and has the chance to lead his St. John's (Shrewsbury) Pioneers to a state championship in Division 3.

By SuiteSports Staff

SuiteSports is proud to unveil its updated list of candidates for its 2017 MIAA Football Player of the Year Award. This list will be updated weekly through state championship Saturday on December 2nd.

The winner will be announced in accordance with SuiteSports’ All-State teams in the second week of December.

Here are the current candidates for the 2017 MIAA Football SuiteSports Player of the Year Award. Players can make their way onto this list as the final weeks of the playoffs unfold.

SuiteSports' MIAA Football Player of the Year Watch List: 10/19

Arguably the best two-way player in the state, King Philip's Shane Frommer has the Warriors in prime position to defend their state title.

By SuiteSports Staff

Last season, SuiteSports bestowed its first ever MIAA Football Player of the Year award upon Duxbury quarterback Bobby Maimaron. One year later, SuiteSports is excited to continue its now annual tradition of honoring the top football player in Massachusetts.

While a number of players have certainly made their case with standout performances, only a select few have exhibited the consistent excellence it takes to be named the top player in Massachusetts.

Beginning this week, SuiteSports is proud to unveil its candidates for the 2017 MIAA Football Player of the Year Award. The list will be updated weekly through state championship Saturday on December 2nd.

The winner will be announced alongside SuiteSports’ All-State Team in the second week of December.

Here are our current candidates for the 2017 MIAA Football SuiteSports Player of the Year Award. Players can make their way onto this list as the final weeks of the regular season and playoffs unfold.