WAKEFIELD — The MIAA’s winter power rankings are now being released weekly.
In the latest rankings that were published on Friday afternoon, Wakefield had three teams currently on pace to make the postseason. The four winter sports that have power rankings are girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, girls’ hockey and boys’ hockey.
The Warriors girls’ basketball team is currently ranked No. 19 in Div. 2 with a record of 8-2. Wakefield is currently on a four-game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight games including a 40-20 victory over Tewksbury at home on Thursday night and a 49-44 win over Watertown on the road Friday night. The Warriors host Reading (7-2, No. 15 in D2) tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. and travel to Lexington (4-5, No. 28 in D1) on Friday night at 6 p.m. The top five Div. 2 girls’ basketball teams are Medfield (8-1), Norwood (7-1), Westwood (6-2), Dartmouth (9-0) and Pembroke (7-1).
The Wakefield boys’ basketball team is ranked No. 21 in Div. 2 with a record of 5-4. Like the girls’ team, the boys’ ranking came out before their victory over Watertown on Friday. The Warriors beat the Raiders 60-49 on the road, snapping a two-game skid. Wakefield travels to Reading (1-7, No. 58 in D2) on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. and hosts Lexington (6-2, No. 25 in D1) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The top five Div. 2 boys’ basketball teams are Malden Catholic (8-0), Whitman-Hanson (9-0), Pope Francis (9-0), Mansfield (7-2) and Plymouth South (6-2).
The Wakefield boys’ hockey team (1-10) found themselves in postseason contention as the No. 22 ranked team in Div. 3 in the latest rankings. Wakefield’s ranking is largely due to their strength of schedule as most of their games are against teams in higher divisions. The top 32 ranked teams make the state tournament regardless of record. Teams who finish at .500 or higher also automatically qualify. The Warriors picked up their first win on Jan. 6 over Peabody but have since dropped four straight. Wakefield’s tough schedule continues with Winchester (5-5, No. 10 in D1) on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. and Reading (6-1-1, No. 2 in D1) on Saturday night at 8 p.m. The top five Div. 3 boys’ hockey teams are Nauset (8-0-1), Medfield (10-0-1), Marblehead (9-1-1), Essex Tech (8-1-1) and Bedford (7-1).
The girls’ hockey team is currently on the outside looking in for the D2 playoff picture. The Warriors, who are still looking for their first win of the season, were ranked No. 38 in the latest rankings. Wakefield also has a tough schedule ahead this week with matchups against Shawsheen Tech (7-2, No. 20 in D1) today at noon, Winchester (4-3-2, No. 16 in D1) on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and Reading (5-4, No. 15 in D1) on Saturday night at 8 p.m.