Amidst the final full week of the regular season, the eyes of the high school basketball world are now firmly affixed to the MIAA Power Rankings.
With each release, the postseason picture becomes clearer, and the line between in and out emboldens.
The parameters for basketball tournament qualification are simple; there are two ways into the dance.
First, you can achieve a Power Ranking inside the top 32. If you cannot, you must win 50% of your games to gain entrance.
As we enter the final 10 days of the regular season, here’s a look at some of the teams that find themselves on the bubble, and how they can secure a tournament spot.
Boys Basketball
Weymouth
Record: 9-9
Ranking: 33, Division 1
Weymouth is just outside the top 32 as of the latest Power Rankings release. With four remaining games on their schedule, they’ll need to win two more games.
The good news for the Wildcats: their next three games come against teams with losing records. Remaining games include Milton (0-16) on Tuesday, Newton South (7-10) on Friday, and Boston Latin (6-10) on Sunday in the first round of their invitational tournament.
Hingham
Record: 10-9
Ranking: 32, Division 1
Things looked pretty bleak for the Harbormen about a month ago, but six wins in the last seven games have moved them into the top 32.
Whether they hold that spot is the remaining question.
Hingham can remove the guesswork, however, by securing one more win. It’s a tough road out, with a visit to a pesky Pembroke team on tap Tuesday night before two games in the Mansfield Roundball Tournament.
Duxbury
Record: 9-9
Ranking: 37, Division 2
It’s been eight years since Gordon Cushing brought the Dragons to the playoffs, and the path to ending that drought is perfectly clear, for better or worse.
At this point, a move into the top 32 seems unlikely for Duxbury. This leaves only one option to earn a playoff berth: win one of their final two games.
The Dragons remaining two games are at home. First, they’ll face a tough Plymouth South team Tuesday night. Should the Panthers pick up the road win, it will all come down to Friday night’s game against Falmouth.
Friday night’s game also happens to be WATD’s South Shore Game of the Week.
East Bridgewater
Record: 9-9
Ranking: 30, Division 3
If the Vikings can hold onto their spot in the top 32, this all becomes moot. But there isn’t very much separating the Vikings from the four teams beneath them.
Regardless, a 1-1 finish or better in their final two games secures a spot. EB closes with a visit to Carver next Tuesday and a home game against Westport next Wednesday.
Girls Basketball
Middleboro
Record: 10-10
Ranking: 40, Division 2
Back to back wins on Thursday and Friday night have put the Sachems back in position to make a run at the postseason. With their poll position, however, it will have to be by virtue of a .500 record.
With two games remaining, Middleboro needs one more win. It will be a daunting task, with a visit to Dartmouth (9-7) upcoming on Thursday, before hosting New Bedford (11-5) on Monday.
The Sachems fell by 24 and 20 points respectively in their first meeting with each team.
