Now it’s for keeps.
The MIAA released its inaugural basketball state tournament brackets Saturday. Currently all preliminary round games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and all second round games are supposed to be 6:30 p.m. Friday. That will likely change, as some schools will likely host doubleheaders, and the schedule could shift based on travel and other factors.
Amherst Regional is the No. 6 seed in the Division 2 boys field. The Hurricanes (15-5) received a bye to the second round and will host either No. 27 Dracut (13-9) or No. 38 Plymouth North (12-8).
If Amherst wins that game, it could match up with league rival Holyoke in the Round of 16. The Purple Knights (14-6) are seeded 11th. They also are through to the second round via a bye. Either No. 22 Bedford (14-6) or No. 43 Wilmington (11-9) is coming to Holyoke after they face off.
Northampton made the field as the No. 25 seed. The Blue Devils (10-9) have a first-round home game against No. 40 Nashoba (13-7) on Tuesday.
The same three schools qualified for the girls field, as well. No. 13 Holyoke (14-6) made the cut for a first-round bye. The Purple Knights will get No. 20 South High (19-1) on Friday.
No. 17 Amherst (16-4) will open the tournament at No. 16 Westborough (15-4) in the second round on Friday.
Northampton, the No. 26 seed, will feature in an all-Western Massachusetts preliminary round game. No. 39 Agawam (10-10) comes to the Blue Devils (10-10) on Tuesday. Northampton won their regular season meeting, 51-28.
DIVISION 5 – The top five boys seeds and seven of the top eight hail from Western Massachusetts. Granby is No. 7. The Rams (16-4) will play either No. 26 Sutton (8-11) or No. 39 Keefe Tech (8-8) in Round 2 on Friday.
No. 8 Hopkins Academy (15-5) awaits either No. 25 Palmer (5-16) or No. 40 Hampden Charter (10-10) in the second round.
No. 28 Smith Academy (10-10) will face No. 37 Westfield Tech (14-6) in the opening round on Tuesday, while No. 38 Smith Vocational (13-7) is at No. 27 Cristo del Ray Boston (6-9) in the first round also Tuesday.
The girls bracket contains 52 teams. There are 91 Division 5 schools.
No. 27 Granby (3-17) is hosting No. 38 Minuteman Regional (14-5) in the first round on Tuesday. No. 36 Hopkins Academy (10-10) will travel to No. 29 Upper Cape Tech (17-3), while No. 51 Smith Vocational (11-9) visits No 14 David Prouty (11-8).
DIVISION 4 – South Hadley’s run to the Western Massachusetts final earned it potentially two home games in the girls tournament. The Tigers (14-6) are the No. 8 seed they’ll await either No. 25 Uxbridge (10-10) or No. 40 Maimonides (8-6). Should South Hadley win on Friday, it would also host the Round of 16.
No. 13 Easthampton (17-3) will get No. 20 Frontier Regional (16-4) in Friday’s second round. No. 30 Hampshire Regional (5-15) is hosting a preliminary round game against No. 35 Snowden (9-3).
In the boys bracket, No. 13 Frontier (15-5) will face No. 20 West Bridgewater (14-6) in the second round on Friday. No. 16 South Hadley just made the cut for a second-round home game and will entertain No. 17 Amesbury.
DIVISION 3 – Belchertown qualified both of its teams.
The Orioles girls squad (12-8) is No. 22. They will travel to No. 11 Hudson (16-5) in the second round Friday at 6:30 p.m.
In the boys bracket, Belchertown (14-6) is seeded 23rd. The Orioles will face No. 42 Quabbin (12-8) in Tuesday’s opening round at 6:30 p.m.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.