Some teams that did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs remain, and by the same token, there are teams that did not make the playoffs but belong in any conversation about the top teams in the state.

North Attleboro had one of the best defenses in the state. It plays in one of the toughest leagues (Hockomock), and the only thing that kept it out out of the postseason was a three-way tie for the league title with two other ranked teams (No. 6 King Philip, No. 8 Mansfield).

Everett has been on top all season - and the Crimson remain there after a second straight undefeated season - and Dennis-Yarmouth was ranked No. 4 going into its game at Manning Field, which it won convincingly.

But an interesting debate began among the school staff when it was suggested that No. 3 BC High would defeat No. 2 Duxbury if the teams played tomorrow.

BC High’s losses came against the best team in the state and two of the top programs in New Jersey. Duxbury has not lost a game since 2009.

Eagles supporters will argue strength of schedule, but at the end of the day, BC High lost three games while Duxbury has the longest winning streak in the state. The final rankings must reflect that.

Boys’ soccer

Despite being ranked for much of the season, Masconomet had fallen out of the Top 20 entering the postseason. In taking over for the legendary Lenny Emmons, first-year coach Dave Mitchell preached an 11-man defensive effort, which led to 13 shutouts and a 0.7 goals against average.

Masconomet’s run to the Division 1 state title game, highlighted by junior keeper Derek Grammar’s four-save shootout against Acton-Boxboro, proved it belonged in the No. 1 spot.

No. 2 Georgetown showed that the gap between divisions in soccer is blurry, as the Division 3 EMass champ dispatched nearly everyone in its path, including previously unbeaten and fifth-ranked Cardinal Spellman.

Girls’ soccer

Peabody, led by Division 1 Player of the Year Hayley Dowd, became the only girls’ soccer team in EMass to finish the season unbeaten. The Tanners (21-0-2) finished their season with a 1-0 win over East Longmeadow in the state final, vaulting them from No. 9 to No. 1.

Canton, under Division 2 Coach of the Year Paul Turner and All-Scholastic striker Lauren Berman, battled all the way to the Division 2 state final and finished with the No. 2 ranking.