Winter 2026 State Championship Lookahead: Boys Basketball

The MIAA Basketball State Championships are back for the fifth year in a row at Tsongas Center in Lowell. The 2026 boys championship slate features one game on Friday, March 13, followed by a pair of games each on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15.

At least four new champions will be crowned, while the other game pits a matchup of recent state champions. Two schools are appearing in a state final for the first time.

Here is a look at what is ahead:

Division 2

Friday (March 13), 8 p.m.
St. Mary’s High School vs. Masconomet Regional High School

One program is relatively familiar with the championship stage, while the other finally has broken through for the first time.

No. 1 seed St. Mary’s last was here in 2023, when it fell to Archbishop Williams in the Division 3 final. The Spartans did win the D3 crown in 2022 (over Watertown), and are 5-4 all-time in title games.

No. 2 Masconomet is making its championship debut. Before this season, the Chieftains had never even reached the state semifinals.

This will be a rematch of a Jan. 12 nonleague game, which St. Mary’s won, 75-61.

ROAD TO TSONGAS: St. Mary’s – beat Minnechaug (74-45), Foxborough (81-54), Chicopee Comprehensive (57-56), Plymouth South (38-35) … Masconomet – beat Middleborough (78-50), Nashoba Regional (71-50), Burlington (61-35), Pope Francis Prep (50-48).

Division 4

Saturday (March 14), 2 p.m.
Wareham High School vs. Georgetown High School

These teams have combined to win the last three Division 4 championships, but will be on the court together for the first time.

No. 1 seed Wareham won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, beating Springfield International and Bourne, respectively. The Vikings are 4-2 all-time in title games, with their other wins in 2010 and 1956.

Meanwhile, No. 3 Georgetown is the defending champion after beating Monument Mountain, 61-54, a year ago. That is the only title for the Royals, and the town’s only other appearance was in 1955 (known then as Perley High School).

ROAD TO TSONGAS: Wareham – beat Tech Boston Academy (82-61), South Hadley (83-67), Wahconah Regional (74-51), West Bridgewater (80-66) … Georgetown – beat Carver (88-56), Sutton (56-28), Blue Hills RVT (66-63), Millbury (53-51).

Division 3

Saturday (March 14), 6 p.m.
Hanover High School vs. Salem High School

This is the only boys matchup of the weekend featuring the top two seeds in the bracket.

No. 1 Hanover is back for the first time since 2017, when the Hawks scored their only state title in two tries, beating Palmer (2017). Hanover’s only other appearance was back in 1958.

The wait has been even longer for No. 2 Salem, which beat Greenfield (81-68) in its last final appearance in 1995. The Witches also were 68-58 winners over Gardner for the 1990 D2 title.

ROAD TO TSONGAS: Hanover – beat Randolph (56-44), Lynnfield (70-60), Medfield (65-40), Greater Lawrence Tech (46-33) … Salem – beat Lowell Catholic (76-46), Charlestown (53-50), Cathedral (56-40), Lynn Classical (68-50).

Division 5

Sunday (March 15), 2 p.m.
Holbrook High School vs. Hoosac Valley High School

The winner is guaranteed to be a first-time champion.

No. 6 Holbrook made its only previous appearance in the pre-MIAA era, dropping a 90-79 decision to Holliston back in 1965.

It’s been much more recent for No. 8 Hoosac Valley, which fell to New Mission (57-49) in the Division 5 final two years ago. The Hurricanes also appeared in 2015, 2009 and 2003.

ROAD TO TSONGAS: Holbrook – beat Boston Preparatory Charter (66-45), Mount Everett Regional (68-48), KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate (73-70), Prospect Hill Academy (68-65) … Hoosac Valley – beat Academy of the Pacific Rim (78-59), Ware (66-48), Drury (73-67), Roxbury Prep Charter (56-52).

Division 1

Sunday (March 15), 6 p.m.
Central Catholic High School vs. Bishop Feehan High School

The weekend slate caps with a matchup between a consensus frontrunner and a postseason Cinderella story.

No. 1 seed Central Catholic has been one of the teams to beat all season. Still, the Raiders haven’t played in a state final since 2014 (loss to Putnam Voke) and are seeking their first championship since 2010 (56-55 over St. John’s). Central is 4-2 overall in title games.

As the No. 14 seed, Bishop Feehan is on a historic tournament run to get to the program’s first state championship game. Feehan has four-overtime and two-overtime wins in the past two weeks.

ROAD TO TSONGAS: Central Catholic – beat Natick (77-68), Saint John’s (55-52), Beverly (55-53), Springfield Central (74-64, ot) … Bishop Feehan – beat Acton-Boxborough (85-67), Needham (94-87, 4 ot), Bridgewater-Raynham Regional (65-60, 2 ot), Andover (89-73).