The regular season is officially in the books, as Western Massachusetts boys basketball teams are now in postseason/non-playoff contests over the next two weeks before the state tournament begins on Feb. 23.
League title races have been set, and a few squads are scrambling to punch their state tourney tickets over the course of the last game or two.
With that in mind, here’s our latest Top 20 ranking. Just a reminder that these are released every Wednesday morning (current record, previous ranking in parentheses).
If there are missing statistics, coaches can please send them to sports@masslive.com
Previous rankings: Feb. 4, Jan. 28, Jan. 21, Jan. 14, Jan. 7, Dec. 20, Preseason
- Pope Francis (15-3, No. 1)
- Springfield Central (12-4, No. 2)
- Chicopee Comp (15-3, No. 3)
- Longmeadow (15-3, No. 4)
- Sci-Tech (13-4, No. 5)
- Amherst (12-6, No. 6)
- Drury (16-2, No. 8)
- Agawam (8-10, No. 7)
- Minnechaug (9-9, No. 10)
- Wahconah (13-5, No. 9)
- Frontier (17-1, No. 13)
- Pittsfield (11-6, No. 11)
- Putnam (4-13, No. 14)
- Holyoke (5-11, No. 15)
- East Longmeadow (12-6, No. 12)
- Monument Mountain (10-8, No. 16)
- Mount Everett (16-2, No. 19)
- Hoosac Valley (10-8, No. 17)
- South Hadley (9-9, No. 20)
- Easthampton (13-5, NR)
NEXT TEAMS UP: Belchertown, Ludlow, Chicopee, Commerce, Libertas Academy, Baystate Academy
IN: Easthampton
OUT: Northampton
There’s not a ton of movement in our top 20 as the regular season comes to a close. Drury climbs a spot after closing the season on an eight-game winning streak, while Longmeadow is also a red-hot squad as the Lancers are winners of seven in a row.
Minnechaug beat two top-20 teams (Putnam, East Longmeadow) to get into range for a state tourney berth, while Frontier closed its regular season on a whopping 16-game winning streak thanks to Monday’s win over Smith Academy.
Easthampton jumps into the top 20 after winning three games in a row, all on the road (Southwick, Monson, Ludlow).
Belchertown is right on the cusp after a three-game winning streak.
