Is this the best boys basketball season in the history of the Northeastern Conference? Perhaps … but we’ll know for sure in about three weeks.
Very few times in NEC history — and certainly never in the league’s current configuration — have there been so many bona fide state title contenders. Yet its entirely possible the NEC could have representatives in the Final Four of multiple divisions after Beverly, Masconomet, Salem and Swampscott all earned top ten seeds when the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association released the state tournament pairings Saturday afternoon.
In Division 1, Beverly made a surge over the last two weeks and finished the regular season 17-4. The Panthers earned the No. 9 seed, which means they’ll host No. 24 Qunicy or No. 41 Hopkinton in a Round of 32 bout this Thursday night at Henry Cabot Lodge Fieldhouse.
All-star guard Jacob Klass (23.3 pg, 48 3’s) is the headliner for Beverly, but Eli Landman’s recent strong play helped them win 11 of their last 12 games. There’s good depth with Dom Torres, Danny Pierce and Drew Braganca all in the mix. Beverly has never missed the state playoffs under coach Matt Karakoudas and could see Malden Catholic in the second round.
A year after making the Final Four for the first time ever, Masconomet is seeded No. 3 in Division 2. The NEC Dunn champions are led by 1,000 point scorer Jimmy Farrell (19.3 ppg) as well as big men Jamason Vella (15.3 ppg, 10.2 rebounds) and Thomas Denton. It’s as good a ‘Big Three’ as there is on the North Shore — and perhaps beyond.
As a top seed, the Chieftains would be at home until the state semi’s and they’ve lost just one time in Boxford over the last two seasons. Nashoba and Burlington loom in the succeeding rounds should Masconomet continue to advance as it chases its first-ever boys basketball state title.
An All-NEC state final isn’t out of the questions in Division 3, since Lynch champion Salem (19-2) is the No. 2 seed and Swampscott (16-4) rocketed up to No. 4 in the final rankings. That means they’re on opposite sides and can’t face each other until the last game … although of course No. 1 Hanover and an excellent Lynn Classical side will have something to say about the eventual title tilt participants.
For the Witches, who’ve never missed the playoffs under coach Tom Doyle, success is built on team defense and speed. Sublime junior Elian Rodriguez (21.0 ppg, 6.1 assists) is as good a playmaker as there is on the North Shore and senior captain Nate Lane is among the region’s most well-rounded players. Freshman Cleto Deng is a big contributor down low for Salem, which is chasing its first state title since 1994.
They’ll open their march towards that goal this Saturday night, when they host the winner of a Saugus/Lowell Catholic preliminary round game at 6 p.m.
Recent wins over both Salem and Classical helped the Big Blue grab that No. 4 slot. Senior Connor Chiarello (17.1 ppg) and sophomore Teddy O’Neill (21.2) give Swampscott a tremendous 1-2 scoring punch. Chase Groothuis is a solid rebounder and Michael Lutko can shoot from distance for a well-round team that will host the Nantucket/Oakmont winner at a date to be determined.
In all, seven of the NEC’s ten teams qualified for the playoffs. That includes Marblehead (13-7), which drew the No. 20 seed in Division 2 and visits No. 13 Doherty for a first round battle this Friday night (6:30 p.m.). Junior captain Finn Baron leads the charge for the Magicians.
Essex Tech (11-8) is seeded at No. 47 in Division 3 and will be seeking its first playoff win since 2009 when visiting 18th ranked Charlestown in a Tuesday preliminary round matchup. Junior captain Jack Hanchett had a great season for the Hawks as the area’s leading rebounder and senior Antonio Ceruolo is a spot-up shooter who ranks in the top 10 in triples.
The Cape Ann League is well represented in Division 4. Ipswich had its best regular season in a decade, going 13-7 to earn the No. 11 seed in a 43-team draw. The Tigers are led by Vin Winter as well as Rex Satter and Anderson Pillis; it’s a team that possesses both size and depth and could be dangerous. Ipswich will face either Winthrop (a team they beat by three, 57-54, last week) or Smith Voke in the first round later this week at Roundy Gym (day/time TBD).
Hamilton-Wenham is the No. 15 seed with a 9-11 mark, thus earning the right to host the first round. They’ll do so on Friday night against No. 18 Frontier Regional at 6:15 p.m., after the Generals girls host their first round game in a double dip. Recent 1,000 point scorer Caden Schrock leads the Generals while Alex Menegoni and Luke Molitano are others to watch.