It’s been awhile since we last posted a top 20 list.
The holiday season throws a wrench in the plans, as many teams pause or only play a game or two during school vacation. But we’re back now, and 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year across Western Mass.
Just a reminder that these weekly rankings, which will be out every Wednesday morning for the rest of the season, remain fluid with teams winning and losing each night. It’ll all work itself out come state tournament time, but until then, here we go:
Previous rankings: Week 1, Preseason
- Pope Francis (6-1, No. 1)
- Springfield Central (5-2, No. 3)
- Chicopee Comp (4-2, No. 2)
- Agawam (5-3, No. 7)
- Sci-Tech (3-2, No. 8)
- Longmeadow (5-1, No. 9)
- Minnechaug (5-2, No. 6)
- Amherst (5-2, No. 11)
- Putnam (2-4, No. 4)
- Holyoke (1-5, No. 5)
- Drury (7-1, No. 16)
- Wahconah (7-1, No. 14)
- Pittsfield (4-2, No. 13)
- Northampton (2-4, No. 10)
- Frontier (7-1, NR)
- South Hadley (3-3, No. 12)
- East Longmeadow (5-2, No. 15)
- Taconic (3-4, NR)
- Mount Everett (7-1, NR)
- Easthampton (6-2, NR)
ON THE RADAR: Ludlow (5-1), Palmer (4-1), Belchertown (3-3), Hampshire (4-3)
IN: Frontier, Taconic, Mount Everett, Easthampton
OUT: Monument Mountain, SICS, Palmer, Hoosac Valley
Pope Francis secured its top spot after beating Chicopee Comp on Monday night for its sixth consecutive victory.
Springfield Central slides into the No. 2 spot after winning fourth straight games, including last week’s win over Comp.
No. 4 Agawam is as hot as any team right now. The Brownies are winners of four straight, and they’ve beaten Valley League foes Putnam and Holyoke during that span.
Other teams on the rise? Longmeadow, Amherst and Drury. The Lancers are up to No. 6 thanks to four straight wins (three against ranked opponents), while Amherst moves up three spots and Drury hops up to No. 11. The Blue Devils are red-hot thanks to the play of newly-minted 1,000-point scorer Jorge Bond, and they got past Wahconah in a showdown of the top two teams in Berkshire County so far this winter on Monday night.
Frontier has won six games in a row and moves into the top 20, while Mount Everett also makes its debut thanks to a 7-1 start with the lone loss coming to Drury.
