Eight Lower Cape Teams Begin State Tournament Playoffs

Brackets for MIAA winter state tournaments were released this past weekend, and several Lower Cape teams, ranging from top seeds to underdogs, have embarked into the postseason — though the massive blizzard that slammed the region Monday has thrown a wrench into the game schedule.

The area’s highest seed, among the eight teams that qualified for the playoffs this season, is Nauset boys hockey, who at 15-2-3 earned the No. 2 seed in Division 3 as they seek another state title. The defending champions were scheduled (at The Chronicle’s deadline) to host No. 31 Haverhill (12-8-0) in the round of 32 on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. at Charles Moore Arena. However, Nauset Public Schools announced it would be closed Wednesday, meaning that date could potentially change.

The same went for Nauset-Monomoy girls hockey (12-8-0), who claimed a high seed in Division 2. The No. 8 Warriors were set (at The Chronicle’s deadline) to play No. 25 Burlington (5-14) in the round of 32 on Wednesday at 5:10 p.m. at Charles Moore Arena, though it’s possible that date would have to be postponed with Nauset and Monomoy Regional School District's closures Wednesday. Also in Division 2, No. 29 Barnstable/Upper Cape Tech/Cape Cod Tech (4-13-2) was slated to visit No. 4 Pembroke (17-3-0) in the round of 32 on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. 

In the Division 4 boys hockey bracket, Monomoy-Mashpee (11-9) slotted in at No. 16 and Dennis-Yarmouth/Cape Cod Tech/Cape Cod Academy (7-13) at No. 26. Monomoy-Mashpee was scheduled to play No. 17 St. John Paul II (12-7-1) in the round of 32 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Tony Kent Arena, but with Monomoy and Mashpee Public Schools' closures Wednesday, that date may be postponed too. D-Y/CCT/CCA was set to travel to No. 7 Martha’s Vineyard (12-8-0) in the round of 32 on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

In the Division 5 girls basketball tournament, No. 34 Cape Cod Tech (10-9) was scheduled (at The Chronicle’s deadline) to visit No. 31 Rockport (13-7) in the preliminary round Wednesday at 6 p.m. Cape Cod Regional Technical High School closed Wednesday though, so that date also could change. The Crusaders had additionally previously qualified for the state vocational tournament but fell in the semifinals to Minuteman 55-29.

In the Division 3 girls basketball bracket, No. 40 Monomoy (10-10) planned to visit No. 25 Seekonk (14-6) in the preliminary round Thursday at 6:30 p.m. In Division 2, Nauset finished at 6-14 and did not qualify for the playoffs.

In Division 3 boys basketball, No. 35 Monomoy (11-9) was set to play at No. 30 Dover-Sherborn (12-8) in the preliminary round Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., though that date could change. In Division 5, Cape Cod Tech finished the season at 9-11 and did not qualify for the playoffs. In Division 2, Nauset finished at 7-13 and did not qualify for the playoffs.