PHOTO GALLERY: Blackstone Valley Tech vs St. Mary's in the D7 Super Bowl

Photos by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Foxboro, Mass. - In the second state championship game of the day at Gillette Stadium, Blackstone Valley Tech shut out St. Mary's 18-0 to capture the D7 Super Bowl.

Our Andrew Bowman was down on the field to capture images of both teams, which you can view below. Note that you can click any image to enlarge.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Blackstone Valley Tech blanks St. Mary's in D7 Super Bowl

Videos by Matt Siegel (@SportVideoMA)

Foxboro, Mass. - Thanks to a dominant defensive performance, and some big offensive plays, Blackstone Valley Tech won the Division 7 state championship against St. Mary's, 18-0.

Our Matt Siegel was down on field level to bring you video highlights, which you can view below.

Blackstone Valley Tech's Revenge Tour ends with a D7 State Title

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Foxboro, Mass. - A year after coming up just short on the hallowed turf of Gillette Stadium, Blackstone Valley Tech broke through.

The Beavers, big underdogs against a dynastic Mashpee team last season, handled their business routinely against St. Mary's (Lynn), smothering the Spartans 18-0 in Saturday's Division 7 state championship game. BVT held a talented St. Mary's offense to just 75 total yards, including only 27 in the first half when the game was still in doubt.

"St. Mary's is a great team, don't get me wrong, but they didn't come out  to execute today," BVT junior J.D. Antaya. "They looked a little nervous, like us last year at Gillette, but we just came out and treated (Saturday) like any other game."

For BVT, the win meant not just a title, but also state-wide respect, something the Beavers felt they were shorted the last time they visited Foxboro. The Beavers also became the first vocational school to ever win a state-wide football championship in Massachusetts.

Pope Francis and St. John's (Shrewsbury) Prevail in Super 8 Play-in Games

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

North Billerica, Mass. - Up until this past weekend, St. John's (Shrewsbury) had no clue as to what its postseason course would be. The Pioneers went to the the MIAA Super 8 tournament seeding meeting last Saturday unsure if they did enough to earn a spot in the state's most prestigious high school hockey tournament, or if they would be cast off to the Division 1 tournament.

St. John's clung to the belief that its regular season resume was enough to get in, and the MIAA selection committee felt the same, awarding the Pioneers a Super 8 play-in game on Monday night. With opportunity now in its grasp, St. John's did not disappoint, as it blanked St. Mary's (Lynn) 3-0 inside Chelmsford Forum. Seeded eighth, the Pioneers (14-6-3) move on to play No. 1 Central Catholic (21-1) Thursday at Lowell's Tsongas Arena at a time still to be determined.

Central Catholic Holds off Pope Francis in Opening Round of Cardinal Classic; Malden Catholic Bests St. Mary's (Lynn) in other Semifinal

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

West Springfield, Mass. - The odds of scoring more than one goal against Matt Pasquale have been paper thin this season.

So after Central Catholic spotted its outstanding goaltender a two-goal lead, it appeared pretty safe that it would hold up. Despite some feverish third period play by Pope Francis, the Cardinals only managed to get one shot past the junior as the Raiders prevailed 3-1 Wednesday night in the opening round of the Cardinal Classic played at the Olympia Ice Center.

Central Catholic (20-1) will face Malden Catholic (8-8-3) in the championship tilt here on Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. The Lancers edged St. Mary's of Lynn in evening's other preliminary contest. Pope Francis will take on the Spartans in the consolation game at 2 p.m.

PHOTO GALLERY: Austin Prep Hockey Tops St. Mary's (Lynn)

Photos by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

Lynn, Mass. - You can read Eamon's story on Austin Prep's big win here, and continue below for some great shots from the game.

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

Austin Prep Improves Super 8 Resume with Win over St. Mary's

By Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

Lynn, Mass. - In any sport, games that decide a regular season championship generally come down to which team performs better under pressure.

St. Mary’s High School (Lynn) hosted rival Austin Preparatory School Wednesday, not only with a CCL regular season title on the line, but also in front of hundreds of fans on Senior Night.

The (#10) Spartans (11-3-4) and (#9) Cougars (10-5-1) both came into the game with dreams of a Super 8 bid, yet only AP escaped with the ability to control its own destiny still intact, thanks to a resounding 6-1 victory.

MIAA Basketball Top 25: Week 7

A win over Cardinal Spellman at the TD Garden is yet another feather in red-hot Mansfield's cap.   Photo by Eamon Convey.


 Our rankings of the best teams in the state, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. Records are Through Sunday, January 28th. (Updated 1/29)


1. Brockton (13-0; Last Week - 2) We have a changing of the guard at the top as the Boxers defeated Cambridge before going on the road to defeat Bridgewater-Raynham to remain unbeaten. Brockton will be instantly tested this week when they head to Durfee before hosting Newton North.

PHOTO GALLERY: St. Mary's (Lynn) Hoops tops Cardinals Spellman

By Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

In one of the best early-season basketball games in Massachusetts, St. Mary's (Lynn) bested Cardinal Spellman, 68-64, in a thriller Thursday night.

Our Eamon Convey was there to capture the sights of the game, so continue below for those images. Also note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

St. Mary's (Lynn) Edges Hingham in Shootout for Serino Classic Crown

By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)

Malden, Mass. - Mark Lee knows a good thing when he sees it.

The 31-year St. Mary's (Lynn) hockey coach saw plenty over the past 24 hours to have him believing that his Spartans have the necessary weaponry to make a solid run at a second straight state championship.

St. Mary's relied heavily on a suffocating defense and a hot goaltender to claim a 2-1 shootout win over Hingham in Thursday night's championship game of the Christie Serino Christmas Classic held at Valley Forum II. The victory comes fresh off the heels of the Spartans' 3-2 triumph over Austin Prep during Wednesday's opening round tilt.

Against the Harbormen, the defending Division 1 state champs stuck to a system of not allowing any easy chances. The objective was to make Hingham earn every shot it took.

Mashpee Rides Ford Past St. Mary's (Lynn) for Spot in D7 State Final

By Nate Rollins (@n_rollins1)

Braintree, Mass. - The Mashpee High football team is off to the Super Bowl, again.

The Falcons secured their third straight trip to the state championship game with a 28-20 victory over St. Mary’s (Lynn) in the Div. 7 state semifinals.

“It feels tremendous,” Mashpee head coach Matt Triveri said of going back to the Gillette Stadium.

Mashpee will square off against Blackstone Valley Tech (11-0) in the Div. 7 Super Bowl on Friday, Dec. 1, at Gillette Stadium.

Calvin Johnson Continues Historic Tear For St. Mary's Football vs Cardinal Spellman

Brockton, Mass. - The Spartans of St. Mary’s (Lynn) won a Catholic Central League title and advanced all the way to the Division 3A Super Bowl last year, but just making it to the big game wasn’t enough for Calvin Johnson.

St. Mary’s star senior moved from running back to quarterback this year and is on a mission, totaling 17 touchdowns as a runner, passer, cornerback and as a kick returner through four games this season, including a four-touchdown performance to lead the Spartans over rival Cardinal Spellman in a 48-8 drubbing on the road on Friday night.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: St. Mary's Wins D1 Boys' Hockey Final Against Framingham

Video by Zander Dolan (@LongtimenoZs)

St. Mary's captured a state title against upstart Framingham Sunday night at Boston's TD Garden.

Our Zander Dolan and Mike Abelson were there to capture the highlights, so continue below for all the action.

Maynard Gets Payback Against St. Mary's in D4 Title Game

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The Maynard boys' basketball team finally broke through Saturday night.

Scratch that, the town of Maynard broke through.

After watching its basketball team came up short of a state title in boys' basketball last March, and fall in a football state championship game in December, this year's Tigers hoops squad delivered a championship to the tiny town.

"I feel like the town of Maynard got a chance to get the gold ring, and I was so happy for the town," Maynard coach Paul Howes said. "I don't feel like it's about (us). Obviously, I'm happy for my players, but I'm really happy for the community."

The win also served as revenge, as Maynard defeated the same St. Mary's team that had defeated it on this same floor at Blake Arena in Springfield a year ago. Unlike last year, where an inexperienced Tiger team struggled to gain its footing, this year Maynard left no doubt, leading from start to finish in a 62-42 route.

St. Mary's (Lynn) Hockey Shuts Out Andover to Repeat as D1 North Champion

By Mike Abelson (@ABELS0N)

LOWELL, Mass. - It was a battle of two of the best teams north of Boston and, when the dust settled, St. Mary’s (Lynn) escaped Tsongas Center with a 2-0 victory over Andover to win its second straight Division 1 North title, and advance to the state title game at TD Garden.

The Spartans were anchored by a solid performance in goal by senior keeper Andrew LoRusso, who turned aside all 27 shots he saw. LoRusso was forced to work his hardest in the third period, when Andover pressed continuously for long stretches.

“He provided a shutout in the North finals. That’s incredible,” St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee said of LoRusso. “We’re not here without him. He came up big when we played Reading to start this whole tournament. That’s what you need to go on. I wouldn’t want to have any other goaltender.”

MIAA Boys' Hoops State Semifinal Preview: Division 4

Cathedral hasn't been tested thus far this tournament. That will likely change against St. Mary's (Lynn).

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) and Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We've already previewed the semifinals in Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3, so now it's time to dig into both the Eastern Mass title game, and Central/West state semifinal in Division 3. It's too late in the year for lengthy introductions, so let's get right to it.

Division 4 Eastern Mass Final

St. Mary’s (Lynn) (18-5) vs. Cathedral (18-4)

Players to Watch:
St. Mary’s (Lynn) – Jalen Echevarria, So., SG Jonathan Mola, Sr., SF., Keith Ridley Jr., So., F.
Cathedral – Calvin Cheek, Sr., SG; Khalil Blair, Sr., SG; Trevor Lynch, Sr., SF.

RECAP: East Bridgewater Capitalizes on St. Mary's Turnovers in D3A Championship

East Bridgewater's Greg Plunkett breaks away for a touchdown in his team's D3A state title game win against St. Mary's.

By Jason Siegel (@jasiegel1821)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.- The East Bridgewater Vikings used a dominant defense to dispatch the St. Mary’s Spartans, 34-8, in the MIAA Division 3A State Super Bowl on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

In the first half, the game was headlined by turnovers and tough, energetic defenses.

PHOTOS: East Bridgewater Tops St. Mary's for D3A Title

Photos by Brendan C. Hall (@BHallESPN)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.- East Bridgewater took advantage of six St. Mary's turnovers en route to a 34-8 victory in the Division 3A state title game at Gillette Stadium.

Continue below for photos from today's early game, and click on any image to enlarge.