ESPNBoston.com's girls hoops Top 25

Updated: March 20, 2013, 4:43 PM ET
ESPNBoston.com

Below is our top 25 MIAA girls basketball poll, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 3/20)

Team Name Record Last Week Notes
1. Archbishop Williams (23-5) 2 The Bishops stormed the Division 3 tournament to win their third state championship in eight seasons, winning their six playoff games by an average margin of victory of 19.8 points. And with virtually everyone back next year, minus Catholic Central League MVP Sara Ryan, it should be an interesting 2013-14 campaign when they officially move up to Division 1.
2. Medfield (26-2) 8 The Big Blue scored a dramatic victory over Reading in the Division 2 EMass Final, then followed up with an impressive defeat of Nashoba in the state final for their first such championship. One of the state's most efficient offenses (65.5 points per game) returns the dynamic duo of Lauren Petit and Kristen Fechtelkotter next year.
3. Reading (23-1) 1 The controversial ending to the D2 EMass Final with Medfield will be talked about for quite some time in Reading. So, too, will the Olivia Healy era. The Richmond signee leaves as the school's all-time leading scorer, and having led the Rockets on a 48-game win streak, including a state title in 2012.
4. Central Catholic (22-5) 12 No player's stock rose in the playoffs more than Casey McLaughlin's. The Stonehill-bound forward led the Raiders through the D1 North gauntlet en route to their second state title in five seasons.
5. Braintree (24-3) 3 For the second straight year, the Wamps won D1 South only to fall to an MVC team in the EMass Finals. The good news is they have as solid a foundation as any in the state, with sophomore and Bay State Conference MVP Bridget Herlihy in tow. The bad news? Looks like the Archies will be entering the field.
6. Westford Academy (20-5) 13 The Grey Ghosts peaked at the right time, knocking off heavyweight Billerica en route to the D1 North Finals. With a solid junior class, led by Samantha Hyslip, they should be right back in this thing next winter.
7. Pentucket (24-2) 9 As expected, the Sachems won D3 North again, but this time were unable to repeat as state champions, falling to Archbishop Williams in the EMass Final at TD Garden.
8. Holy Name (22-3) 10 Banner year for the Naps, who made their first state final appearance of the decades-long Barry Finneron era. And with stalwarts Brianna Frias and Gigi Guenther returning, they could make another deep run in 2014.
9. Billerica (20-3) 4 Chris Doneski deserves Coach of the Year consideration for the building job he's done with the Indians. They reached the D1 North semifinals and have a strong foundation for the long haul.
10. Andover (18-7) 20 Led by do-everything senior Devon Caveney (15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists), the Golden Warriors were one of the pleasant surprises of the second half of the season, capped with an upset of Lynn English in the D1 North quarterfinals.
11. Lynn English (21-3) 7 Returning a junior class of Catherine Stinson, Diondra Woumn and Deidra Newson, this is a team that on paper could conceivably begin the year in the Top 5.
12. Duxbury (21-3) 14 The Dragons made a nice run as one of the top seeds in the D2 South tournament before surrendering a fourth-quarter lead to state champ Medfield in the district final.
13. Oliver Ames (19-2) 5 The Tigers earned the top seed in Division 2 South but fell victim to one of the hottest teams in the state, falling to Notre Dame of Hingham in the first round.
14. North Andover (15-9) NR We knew the Scarlet Knights would pick up steam again once Morgan Lumb got healthy, and they did just that, advancing to their first D2 North final since 1988.
15. Franklin (19-5) NR The Panthers outlasted Newton South in the D1 South semifinals before falling in a 47-43 heartbreaker to Braintree in the district final.
16. St. Mary's (Lynn) (21-3) 11 After a terrific regular-season run, the Spartans were victims to one of the tournament's biggest upsets, falling to No. 11 seed Watertown 61-60 in the D3 North semifinals.
17. Ipswich (19-4) 17 Mandy Zegarowski has built a powerhouse over at Ipswich. It's too bad the Tigers ended up on the same side of the D3 North bracket as Cape Ann rival Pentucket.
18. Fenway (16-7) NR The Panthers were unable to defend their Boston City League title due to rules violations, but were successful in their D4 state title defense, once again taking down Greater New Bedford in the final at TD Garden.
19. Newton South (12-11) NR The Lions scored one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, knocking off No. 1 seed and cross-town rival Newton North in the first round of D1 South, en route to the sectional semifinals.
20. Lee (19-6) NR The Wildcats made a record 16th D3 State Final appearance, losing to the Archies at DCU Center. Between the graduation of Western Mass. Player of the Year Stephanie Young and the retirement of coach Gig Wellington, there are some big shoes to fill. But if history tells us anything, Lee should simply reload.
21. Notre Dame (Hingham) (13-11) NR The Cougars, who reached the D2 South semifinals, get the nod here over fellow independent Fontbonne for the upset of No. 1 seed Oliver Ames.
22. Newton North (19-2) 6 The Tomahawks return to our poll for the first time in a month following win over Wachusett, which swept the season series with the Mountaineers and clinched Mid-Wach A.
23. Nashoba (24-3) NR Banner year for the Chieftains, who knocked off Tyngsborough en route to their first D2 State Final appearance. Second-year coach Beth McNamara has them looking at a bright future.
24. Chicopee (16-8) NR The Pacers outlasted a wide-open D1 West field to win the bracket before losing to Holy Name in the state semifinals.
25. Masconomet (16-6) NR Some thought this would be a rebuilding year after an historic 2011-12 campaign, but the Chieftains quietly put together a 16-win season before getting ousted in the D1 North quarterfinals.
Last 10 out: Abington (22-2), Arlington Catholic, Ashland (17-7), Bishop Feehan (17-5), Fontbonne (19-3), Northampton (18-5), Sabis (23-2), Scituate (19-4), Tyngsborough (22-1), Watertown (13-11)

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