WORCESTER—As the final week of the regular season comes to a close during February break, four girls high school basketball teams in the city have qualified for the MIAA State Tournament in their respective divisions.
South (15-3, 8-0 CMAC A), Doherty (11-7, 6-2 CMAC C), Saint Paul (14-4, 6-2 CMAC B) and Abby Kelley (14-5, 8-2 CMAC F) have all won enough games to earn 2026 tournament berths.
The qualification process for the state tournament is based on the MIAA’s Power Rankings. Within each of the five divisions, the top 32 power rated teams qualify for the tournament, regardless of record. Teams ranked 33 and below qualify for a play-in game with a .500 or better overall record.
South (Qualified, Division 1):
The Colonels, who compete in the Division 1 tournament this season, have made back-to-back appearances in the Division 2 state championship game the last two seasons but fell to Medfield each time. This season, South won 13 straight games before losing at number two ranked Springfield Central on Feb. 10.
The Colonels are currently ranked number five in the latest MIAA Power Rankings for Division 1 and are undefeated atop the Central Mass. Athletic Conference Division A standings at 8-0. South has been led by two of the top scorers in CMAC A, Gianah Estevez (16.4 ppg) and Lydia Charlonne (10.5 ppg), a duo that has combined for more than 70 steals this season. The Colonels wrap up the regular season against Wellesley at home on Monday.
Doherty (Qualified, Division 2):
The Highlanders won seven in a row before losing their last two games. Doherty is first in the CMAC C standings with a league mark of 6-2. Ranked #54 in the MIAA Power Rankings for Division 2, the Highlanders have been led by Analia Brown (11.0 ppg) and Ava Egonu (9.9 ppg), the top two scorers in the division. Doherty wraps up the regular season with a road game at Auburn and a home contest against West Boylston.
Saint Paul (Qualified, Division 3):
The Knights enter the final week of the regular season on a four-game winning streak and winners of eight of their last nine contests.
Saint Paul is first in the CMAC B standings at 6-2 and is ranked #32 in the MIAA Power Rankings for Division 3. Saint Paul is powered by the top two scorers in the division, Kate McGowan (12.7 ppg) and Ireland Shea (11.3 ppg). The Knights travel to Tewksbury on February 17 for their final regular season game.
Abby Kelley (Qualified, Division 5):
The Bears will make a return trip to the Division 5 state tournament this season. Abby Kelley had won six straight before falling to Murdock by two points on February 12. The Bears are ranked #39 in the Division 5 Power Rankings and are second in the CMAC F standings at 8-2. Abby Kelley has been led by Azariya Sullivan (12.1 ppg), the second highest scorer in the division. The Bears finish the regular season with a road game at Sizer on Tuesday.
According to the MIAA’s guidelines, the regular season is slated to end on Thursday, February 19. Brackets will be released on Saturday, February 21 and tournament games will begin on Monday, February 23.
Mike Vigneux is a freelance writer in Worcester with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of municipal government, communications, and public relations. An avid fan of all sports, Mike enjoys telling the stories of local athletes and their teams. He holds two degrees from Clark University, a bachelor of arts in Communication and a master of science in Professional Communication. He can be reached at Mikevigs@gmail.com
