Massachusetts Latest: Playoffs and Power Rankings
Massachusetts Latest: Playoffs and Power Rankings
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rugby playoffs are set for this weekend.
With BC High having beaten Lincoln-Sudbury 36-10 last week, BC High clinched a playoff spot.
That match was a contentious one, with Lincoln Sudbury getting the better of the set pieces for the first 25 minutes. However quick ball off turnovers saw BC jump out to a 24-0 lead. Lincoln Sudbury struck back in the second half, but HC High had the wind and was able to make it a lot tougher for their opponents through smart tactical kicking.
Scrumhalf Eamon Delaney scored two tries to lead his side to victory.
The MIAA now has its playoff brackets, seeding teams based on a power ranking that uses strength of schedule and margin of victory.
That ended up seeding BC High as #1, Belmont High #2 and St. John's Prep #3. All three of those teams get a bye to the semis, while Xaverian and Milton play-in for the right to play BC High. BC High was 3-2 in the season, while Belmont and St. John's were both 5-1. However, BC High's much stronger strength of schedule put them at #1.
In D2, Weymouth gets a bye as the #1 seed, while six teams play-off for the other spots in the semis:
Catholic Memorial vs Blue Hills
Algonquin vs Malden Catholic
Hanover vs Chelmsford
In this division Weymouth did not have the strongest schedule, that was Algonquin, but Weymouth's better results put them ahead.
Three teams are in the playoffs for the girls, with Lincoln Sudbury facing off with Brookline for the right to play Belmont High in the final.
This was a fairly basic power ranking, with Belmont High going 5-0 they easily outstripped the other four teams in the league.
