Waltham Skates Away from Marshfield for Boys' D1 State Championship

By Jake Levin (@JakeLevin09)

BOSTON -Half of the members of the Waltham Hawks weren’t even alive the last time the school won a state championship in hockey in 2002, but that didn’t stop head coach John Maguire from breaking out every possible reminder of the past along the way for the current group.

Relishing the past created the perfect present for Waltham, which skated away from the Marshfield Rams for a 4-1 win in the Division 1 State Championship game on Sunday night at TD Garden.

The Hawks (18-5-2) never trailed against the Rams (15-7-5), leaving the rest up to goaltender Kyle Penton. The senior netminder ended his career with a bang, turning aside 33 of the 34 Marshfield shots flung in his direction.

BC High Tops Pope Francis in OT for Super 8 Title

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

BOSTON - The MIAA Division 1A tournament, better known as the Super 8, can be both exhilarating or devastating, depending on which side of the fence you happen to be on.

Both of those feelings came to light during the latter stages of Sunday night's Super 8  final held at TD Garden.

Looking to be the first team outside the I-95 corridor to walk away with the 1A title, Pope Francis had it within reach, but failed to secure it.

Leading by a goal with under a minute remaining, the Cardinals watched BC High storm back. Joe Dragon netted the tying goal with 50 seconds remaining in regulation, before Maverick Woods ended it with an overtime tally just two minutes in, giving the second-seeded Eagles a 2-1 victory.

Plymouth South Boys' Hockey defeats Stoneham in OT Thriller for D2 Crown

Photo by Brendan Hall

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

BOSTON - The town of Plymouth had never seen a high school hockey team make a sectional final. Or win a sectional final. Or play at the TD Garden. Or raise a state champion’s trophy in the air.

All that changed yesterday.

The Plymouth South boys went shot for shot with Stoneham in a thriller that needed 2:26 of extra hockey, before junior Alex Hayward feathered home a shot while parallel to the goal line to earn South a 4-3 overtime win, and send its black-and-teal clad fans into a frenzy.

“The school started hockey in 1971,” Plymouth South coach Mike McCosh said. “No team’s ever done what we just did. The United States in 1980 had their miracle, but Plymouth, Massachusetts just had ours.”

Shrewsbury Hockey Edges Hanover to Repeat as D3 State Champs

By Nick Beaudoin (@beaudoin91_)

BOSTON - The Shrewsbury Colonials upset Hanover, handing the Indians their only loss this season and capturing a second consecutive Division 3 state title in the process.

Shrewsbury relied on their top line of twins Anthony and Liam Quinlivan, and Tyler Borys, along with goaltender Pat Shaugnessy to earn a gritty 2-1 victory at the TD Garden.

Woburn Girls' Hockey Repeats as D1 State Champs

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

BOSTON - With all of the scoring being mustered by these two teams throughout the postseason, did you honestly expect it to continue in the game which mattered most?

As bountiful as the offenses for Woburn and Methuen/Tewksbury have been in previous playoff affairs, Sunday's Division 1 final at TD Garden proved to be a defensive, tightly-fisted showcase with little room for error on either side.

After 45 minutes of up and down play, only one shot found its way into the back of the net. That belonging to Kaitlyn Delaney. Left alone in the high slot, the senior took a behind the net feed from Marissa Gregory and promptly sent a shot past Red Ranger goaltender Kaia Hollingsworth at 6:31 of the second period.

The goal would hold up, giving the Tanners a 1-0 victory, and their second state title in as many years.

PHOTO GALLERY: The MIAA Basketball Championships in Springfield

Foxboro's Ashley Sampson helped lead a Warrior comeback in the girls' Division 2 state championship game against Hopkinton. Photo by Ethan Winter.

By SuiteSports Staff

It was a wild day of high school hoops in Springfield, as both the MassMutual Center and Springfield College hosted the MIAA state championships. SuiteSports had you covered all day, and now check out these photos from all eight title games.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow. Photos appear in the order the games were played.

Dingle Propels Archbishop Williams to D3 Girls' Hoops Crown

By Brendan Hall (@BHallUFA)

Springfield, Mass. - Archbishop Williams head coach Matt Mahoney prefaced what was a bold declaration with some of his trademark modesty, warning reporters that he might seem a little biased, and might be a little too in the now. Forgive him, for he just watched his star point guard take the Bishops to yet another MIAA Division 3 state title, their fourth in six seasons.

But this is also one of the most dominant programs in Massachusetts over the last decade, regularly making deep March runs in the state tournament, and churning out Division 1-caliber talents over and over, regularly sending players to schools from the Big Ten to the ACC to the Big East and a slew in between.

And so, there's considerable magnitude to consider.

“She may be the best,” he said of senior Asiah Dingle (20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, five steals), after she dominated Hampshire Regional every which way, filling up the stat sheet en route to a 77-42 win at Blake Arena on the campus of Springfield College.

Coyle & Cassidy and Braintree Capture Girls' Hoops State Championships

By SuiteSports Staff

Two Eastern Mass teams overcame opponents from the west out in Springfield Saturday, with varying levels of difficulty, as Coyle & Cassidy ran away from Monson, while Braintree edged Springfield Central for state championships.

Watertown Goes from Sleeper to State Champ in D3, Topping Easthampton

By Jason Siegel (@jasiegel1821)

Springfield, Mass. - Prior to the sectional tournaments, SuiteSports.com picked 7th-seeded Watertown in D3 North as a potential sleeper.

The Raiders (20-6) then proceeded to exceed everyone’s expectations but their own, winning the 2018 MIAA Division 3 boys state title by beating the Easthampton Eagles, 72-53, on Saturday afternoon at Springfield College.

Watertown’s mantra in the tournament was #Sleeper, and both head coach Stephen Harrington and star senior guard Julio Fulcar (25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) said that the #Sleeper motto motivated them.

Tech Boston Runs Away from Taconic for D2 Crown

By Ethan Winter (@EWints)

Springfield, Mass. - “Defense wins championships” is one of the oldest sports clichés in the book, but for the Tech Boston Bears, it still rings true. The Bears employed a ferocious defense to stifle the Taconic Braves, en route to a resounding 78-40 win in the Division 2 State Championship, the first title in program history.

“It starts with defense and it ends with defense,” said Tech Boston head coach Johnny Lee Williams.

For Taconic (17-8), the Tech Boston (25-1) defense was unlike any they had seen all year, as the Bears forced 34 Braves turnovers.

Price-Espada's Historic Morning Leads Pope John Past Maynard in D4

By Jason Siegel (@jasiegel1821)

Springfield, Mass. - Scoring 49 points in a basketball game is special in any situation at any level.

Pope John junior Angel Price-Espada found that out firsthand on Saturday at Springfield College, as he poured in a career-high-tying 49 points to lead the Pope John Tigers to an 89-57 victory over the Maynard Tigers and an MIAA Division 4 boys state championship.

It is the first boys basketball state title in school history for Pope John (24-1).

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: Melrose vs. Nashoba at Gillette

Photos by Samson Egilman (@Seaglemaniac)

FOXBOROUGH - We will have a full recap of Melrose's D4 title game win over Nashoba up soon, but first check out these pictures by Samson Egilman from the 11am game at Gillette.

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

Peter Oliver Returns from Injury for St. John's (Shrewsbury)'s D3 Super Bowl Win

FOXBOROUGH - St. John’s (Shrewsbury) senior running back Peter Oliver expected to watch the MIAA Division 3 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium from the sidelines.

But one day before the Pioneers' state finals date against North Attleborough, Oliver received clearance from doctors after X-rays revealed that his broken fibula, suffered in a Week 3 win over Leominster, had healed.

Oliver, who has received interest from multiple Division 1 schools, compiled 387 yards and four TDs on just 31 carries through two-and-a-half games this season, and the senior gave the Pioneers a jolt in his return.

Prediction Time: The SuiteSports Staff Picks the MIAA Football Championships

Lincoln-Sudbury quarterback Braden O'Connell and his the Warriors' high-powered backfield will look to knock off defending champion King Philip. What do our guys think of that game, and all the others being played at Gillette Stadium this weekend?...

By SuiteSports Staff

Who doesn't love game picks?

Everybody loves seeing our writers take sides until, of course, we pick against their favorite team. Well, fear not, because several of our correspondents are here to "sleep on" and "disrespect" your favorite program just before its biggest game of the year.

Or maybe we'll pick your team, who knows. Anyways, here are the picks.

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

Jeremy Soule Runs Wild to Carry Middleborough Into D6 Super Bowl

By SuiteSports Staff

Woburn, Mass. - Nothing was going to stop Jeremy Soule from leading the Middleboro Sachems to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1983, and he knew it.

The 5-foot-8 senior running back burst for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage at Woburn High on Friday night, setting the tone in a 27-14 victory over Stoneham in the Division 6 EMass final.

MIAA Football Top 25: Week 9

Mansfield enters our Top 25 after opening the playoffs with a win against rival Marshfield.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. Please note that, now that the playoffs have started throughout the state, these will be our final rankings until after the state championship games in December. (Updated 10/29)

1. Everett (7-0; Last Week – 1 ) St. John’s Prep arrived late and started slowly, while the Crimson Tide erupted for 35 points in the first half of a decisive first-round victory, earning head coach John DiBiaso his 300th career win in the process.

2. BC High (8-0; Last Week – 2 ) Eagles cruised past Taunton, 34-0, in the first round and will host Catholic Conference rival Catholic Memorial this Friday.

3. Central Catholic (8-0; Last Week – 3) Hanging 44 points on Acton-Boxborough is expected from this high-powered Raiders offense, but a 44-0 shutout indicates once again that Central is a complete team.

MIAA Football Top 25: Week 8

 Our rankings at the end of the regular season of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 10/23)

1. Everett (6-0; Last Week – 1 ) Despite finishing the regular season undefeated as the consensus top team in the state, the defending champs earn the No. 3 seed in Division 1 North and will host St. John’s Prep to begin the postseason. 

2. BC High (7-0; Last Week – 2 ) It looked like another low-scoring loss to Xaverian, but the Eagles rallied in the second half and rode Danny Abraham to their first win over the Hawks in 10 tries. 

Lydon and Frommer Both Instrumental in King Philip Winning Streak

King Philip senior quarterback Brendan Lydon and running back Shane Frommer (25) in last year's Division 1A Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

WRENTHAM - Holding on to a 16-game winning streak, King Philip was on the ropes.

Already down 10-0, the Warriors were teetering as rival Mansfield motored down to the 10-yard line, looking to create an insurmountable lead right before the half.

Then, in an instant, the complexion of the evening changed.