The temperatures may have been chilly. But the high school sports action inside our rinks, gyms, pools and areas was red hot.
Playoff berths and tournament seedings were at stake for many of our local squads as the 2023-24 winter season wore down.
For those who took part in individual pursuits such as gymnastics, wrestling and swimming, times had to be shaved down, scores on the mat had to be ramped up, and wrestlers had to survive and advance with the bigger meets in March coming up.
Conference titles were also decided in the month, with some terrific races that saw a number of clubs battle for their league’s penthouse in battles that went down to the final days of the regular season.
The Masconomet girls basketball team emerged atop the Northeastern Conference mountaintop, as did the 18-win Peabody boys hoop squad. Manchester Essex’s boys had a dominant run to capture the Cape Ann League, while Rockport qualified for postseason play on the hardcourt for the first time in over a decade.
Bishop Fenwick was not eligible for postseason play in any sports because of an MIAA ban, but its girls basketball program proved to be among the state’s best with a final record of 17-3. That included a sweep of arch rival St. Mary’s of Lynn for the first time in eight seasons.
In the rinks, St. John’s Prep won the Catholic Conference hockey title for the first time in 11 years; it also grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 state hockey tournament for the third successive season. Swampscott was awareded the NEC Lynch division crown.
The Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading girls hockey team emerged as champions of the Northeast Hockey League as well.
Both the Masconomet and Danvers/Lynnfield gymnastics teams had strong regular seasons as they prepared for both the North and state championship meets.