Where Recorder Area teams sit in MIAA power rankings, Western Mass. tournament

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Staff Writer

Published: 02-04-2025 5:45 PM

With the state tournaments kicking off in just a few weeks, it’s a good time to get a refresher on where the local teams sit in the latest MIAA power rankings, which were released on Tuesday. 

As a reminder, the top 32 ranked teams in each division earn an automatic spot in the tournament while teams ranked outside the top 32 that have a record of .500 or better will also receive a bid. All records listed are what the MIAA used in its rankings. 

The top ranked team in the Recorder area is the Pioneer boys basketball team, which sits in the top spot in the Div. 5 rankings with an unblemished 13-0 record. With a rating of 6.04 (done by taking a teams average margin of victory combined with its opponent rating), the Panthers will be tough to move off that top spot, as second-ranked Granby has a rating of 3.73, showing how large of a lead Pioneer has on earning that top seed. The Panthers have a big game looming with unbeaten Duggan — the No. 4 ranked team in Div. 5 — next Monday in Springfield. 

Mahar and Athol are both in the top 32 of the Div. 5 field, the Senators (9-5) ranked No. 13 and the Bears (9-5) coming in at No. 24. The longtime rivals will meet for the second time this season on Feb. 12, the final game of the regular season for both squads. Mahar won the first matchup, 50-33. 

Turners Falls (4-11) and Franklin Tech (4-12) won’t be able to reach the .500 mark this season and are outside the top 32 of the Div. 5 field, the Thunder ranked 55th and the Eagles 65th. 

The Frontier and Greenfield boys basketball teams compete in Div. 4 and both sit in the top 32. The Redhawks (10-5) clinched an automatic tournament berth following its victory over Southwick last Thursday that gave Frontier double-digit victories, though it might not matter as the Redhawks are ranked No. 24 in the field. 

Greenfield (8-7) is ranked No. 26. While currently under the 10-win threshold, the Green Wave’s rating of minus-0.52 is significantly higher than Monomoy’s — the No. 33 ranked team — of minus-2.34.

The Frontier girls basketball team has roared out to a 14-1 start to the season, with the Redhawks ranked No. 12 in the Div. 4 field. Frontier has an average margin of victory rating of 9.13 while its opponent rating is minus-4.32, though with the Western Mass. tournament around the corner, the Redhawks have a chance to improve their opponent rating and try to earn a top 10 seed. 

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The remainder of the Recorder area girls teams are in Div. 5, with five squads right on the cusp of making it into the bracket. 

Mahar (6-10) is the top ranked area team in Div. 5, coming in at No. 24. The Senators have an overall rating of minus-5.73 while Palmer — the No. 33 ranked squad — had a rating of minus-7.55, so there’s a decent gap between the two. 

Greenfield (4-11) just sneaks into the top 32 with a ranking of No. 30, Wave holding a rating of minus-6.80. 

Franklin Tech (7-9, No. 38), Pioneer (5-10, No. 40) and Mohawk Trail (6-8, No. 45) are on the outside looking in. From a ratings perspective to see how far off each is from the top 32, the Eagles have a rating of minus-8.20, the Panthers minus-8.77 and the Warriors minus-10.92. Athol (0-15) is ranked 73rd. 

Over on the ice, the Greenfield hockey team’s impressive season has it ranked No. 18 in the Div. 4 rankings. Greenfield has an overall rating of minus-0.71 and to showcase just how tight the Div. 4 field is, Medway — the No. 4 ranked team — has a rating of 0.74, showing how a big run down the stretch could help rocket the Wave up the board. 

How about where teams stand in the Western Mass. tournament rankings? If the season ended today, eight Recorder area teams would be competing for a Western Mass. title in a few weeks. There are four divisions for both boys and girls basketball, with the top eight ranked teams in each making the tournament. 

On the boys side, Frontier sits as the No. 7 seed in the Class B field and would be on the road to face Taconic in the quarterfinals. Greenfield is currently the No. 8 seed in the Class B field and would take on top-seeded Monument in the quarters. 

Mahar, the defending Class C champs, are ranked No. 5 currently and would be on the road against Palmer in the opening round. Athol is currently seeded eighth and would be facing top-seeded Granby. 

Pioneer is the top ranked team in Class D and would face Libertas Academy in the opening round. 

On the girls side, Frontier sits in the No. 4 spot in Class B and would be hosting Wahconah in the quarterfinals. Mahar is the No. 7 seed in Class C and would be on the road to take on Lenox while Pioneer is is currently seeded No. 7 in Class D and would be on the road against PV Christian in the opening round.