Mike Moran and I break down all six championship basketball games as part of a special podcast posted here. The description hasn't yet been updated, but I wanted to post this now to give everyone a chance to hear it before heading to the Cage on Saturday.

Also, past championship results are posted below the previews.

As always, you can reach me at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.

DIVISION 1, 5:45 p.m.
No. 1 Amherst (21-0) projected starters
F-Nicole DeMarchena, 5-11, JR
C-Mariah Lesure, 6-0, JR
G-Jenna Klaes, 5-5, SR
G-Alyssa Leonard, 5-6, SR
G-Brianna Leonard, 5-7, SO
No. 3 East Longmeadow (17-4) projected starters
F-Kylie White, 5-10, JR
F-Arielle Ward, 5-11, SO
C-Krista Ferrentino, 6-1, SR
G-Laurie Bonano, 5-6, SR
G-Kelsey Penndorf, 5-6, SR
Head to head: Amherst beat East Longmeadow 58-47 at home on Dec. 23.
How they got here: Amherst beat Pittsfield (46-25); East Longmeadow beat Holyoke (52-46)
Outlook: There are some terrific matchups on Saturday, but this one could be the best of the day. You've got the undefeated Hurricanes playing in their backyard for the first time taking on the defending sectional champs and arguably the region's best player in Ferrentino. Amherst's defense was tremendous in the first matchup, but that was a long time ago and you've got to wonder what the crowd at this game will be like, since Amherst hasn't supported its girls very well and East Longmeadow's boys are also playing in the game after this one. If Amherst plays to its ability, it should earn the win, especially if Lesure and DeMarchena can avoid foul trouble defending Ferrentino. Leonard and Klaes combined for 43 points in the first matchup and their ability to turn defensive perimeter pressure into points could make the difference.
NOTE: Check out Saturday's Gazette for my full preview of this game and the Division 3 girls game.

DIVISION 2, 2:15 p.m.
No. 1 Palmer (22-0) projected starters
F-Katrina Caulfield, 5-8, SR
C-Alyssa Orszulak, 5-10, SR
G-Megan Breault, 5-5, SR
G-Halie Laviolette, 5-5, SO
G-Alyssa Darling, 5-4, FR
No. 3 Monument Mountain (16-6) projected starters
F-Jessica Stevens, 5-9, SR
C-Sarah Mills, 5-10, JR
G-Molly Masiero, 5-4, SR
G-Alyssa Nejaime, 5-5, SR
G-Laura Ann Dinan, 5-7, JR
Head to head: Did not play
How they got here: Palmer beat No. 8 Hampshire Regional (51-47) and No. 4 Wahconah (58-39); Monument beat No. 6 Drury (45-40 in OT) and No. 7 Belchertown (46-38)
Outlook: Once again, the D-2 tournament will be won by Palmer and Monument, who have squared off at the Cage in each of the last two years. Palmer won in the title game in 2008, Monument won in the semis last year (then won the title) and now we have the rubber match. The Spartans ended Palmer's undefeated season last year and the Panthers enter with another unblemished record. This should be a physical battle between two similarly sized teams that know each other quite well.

DIVISION 3, 10:45 a.m.
No. 1 Lee (21-1) projected starters
F-Stephanie Young, 5-9, FR
C-Julia Warner , 5-9, SR
G-Katie Eckart, 5-5, SR
G-Alex Young, 5-9, JR
G-Tara Dooley, 5-4, JR
No. 2 Smith Academy (20-2) projected starters
F-Abeni Davies, 5-9, SR
C-Alyssa Klepacki, 5-10, SO
G-Lindsay Gondek, 5-8, SR
G-Steph Slysz, 5-6, SR
G-Sarah Wickles, 5-7, JR
Head to head: Did not play
How they got here: Lee beat No. 9 Holyoke Catholic (65-32) and No. 5 Ware (72-45); Smith beat No. 7 McCann Tech (62-57) and No. 3 Sabis (45-43)
Outlook: These two teams couldn't have had more different semifinal results, as Lee was an overwhelming force that looked capable of scoring 100 in its victory over the Indians. The Falcons, meanwhile, showed off their toughness with a gritty defensive effort and a last-second coast-to-coast basket scored by Gondek at the buzzer to advance to their first title game since beating Lee in 2002. Both teams have many scoring options and pride themselves on their defense, but Smith can definitely motivate itself via the "nobody believes in us" mantra. It isn't that this Falcons team isn't worthy, it's that this Lee team may be historically good compared to its competition. Eckart scored 33 points in the semifinal win.
NOTE: Check out Saturday's Gazette for my full preview of this game and the Division 1 girls game.

DIVISION 1 GIRLS

1972 Frontier 49, Minnechaug 42
1973 Amherst 44, Frontier 28
1974 Westfield 52, Monson 34
1975 Hampshire 37, Frontier 35
1976 Northampton 57, Chicopee Comp 48
1977 Chicopee Comp 67, Taconic 47
1978 Chicopee Comp 72, Taconic 61
1979 Chicopee Comp 54, Pittsfield 52
1980 Chicopee 66, Westfield 47
1981 Chicopee 36, Holyoke 30
1982 Cathedral 47, Chicopee 42
1983 Lenox 51, Northampton 47
1984 Chicopee 59, Amherst 48
1985 Amherst 57, Pittsfield 36
1986 Chicopee 46, Pittsfield 21
1987 Pittsfield 51, Cathedral 42
1988 Chicopee Comp 67, Pittsfield 48
1989 Agawam 66, Cathedral 52
1990 Agawam 57, Cathedral 45
1991 Cathedral 46, Northampton 45
1992 Northampton 67, Agawam 54
1993 Amherst 63, Northampton 41
1994 Agawam 43, Northampton 35
1995 Pittsfield 60, Northampton 52 (OT)
1996 Pittsfield 52, Taconic 38
1997 Minnechaug 50, Agawam 47
1998 Minnechaug 62, West Springfield 37
1999 Minnechaug 51, Agawam 46
2000 Minnechaug 48, Amherst 34
2001 Pittsfield 55, Longmeadow 40
2002 Pittsfield 52, East Longmeadow 51
2003 Minnechaug 60, Cathedral 52
2004 Minnechaug 50, Central 47
2005 Central 55, Minnechaug 45
2006 Central 50, Chicopee 47
2007 Central 55, Northampton 51
2008 Northampton 60, Central 49
2009 East Longmeadow 55, Central 44

DIVISION 2 GIRLS

1976 Hampshire 57, Hoosac Valley 52
1977 Hampshire 34, Smith Academy 21
1978 Drury 52, Amherst 45
1979 Wahconah 50, Amherst 48
1980 Amherst 72, South Hadley 47
1981 Drury 48, Hoosac Valley 46
1982 Amherst 49, Drury 43
1983 Drury 63, Monument Mountain 39
1984 Monument Mountain 61, Athol 40
1985 Athol 45, Monument Mountain 41
1986 Monument Mountain 43, Athol 32
1987 Athol 67, Monument Mountain 54
1988 Monument Mountain 71, Southwick 46
1989 Monument Mountain 66, Southwick 43
1990 Southwick 65, Greenfield 34
1991 Southwick 51, Taconic 37
1992 Taconic 52, Hoosac Valley 31
1993 Taconic 66, Easthampton 30
1994 Monument Mountain 59, Taconic 46
1995 Wahconah 40, Taconic 38
1996 Monument Mountain 74, Easthampton 45
1997 Monument Mountain 58, South Hadley 31
1998 Monument Mountain 49, Athol 46
1999 Monument Mountain 64, Athol 47
2000 Monument Mountain 60, Drury 56
2001 Drury 50, Monument Mountain 41
2002 Wahconah 46, Hampshire 38
2003 Hampshire 53, Monument Mountain 39
2004 Hampshire 38, Monument Mountain 37
2005 Hampshire 34, Drury 28
2006 Hampshire 63, Drury 39
2007 Hampshire 49, South Hadley 21
2008 Palmer 53, Monument 45
2009 Monument Mountain 46, Wahconah Regional 41

DIVISION 3 GIRLS

1978 Hampshire 39, Smith Academy 33
1979 St. Joseph's 59, Lee 50
1980 Lee 62, Hampshire 57
1981 Lenox 41, Gateway 33
1982 Lenox 53, Frontier 33
1983 Frontier 52, Turners Falls 31
1984 Lenox 61, Frontier 35
1985 St. Joseph's 44, Lenox 39 (OT)
1986 Frontier 49, St. Joseph's 44
1987 Frontier 34, Hopkins 27
1988 Frontier 42, Lee 40
1989 Lee 52, Hopkins 33
1990 Lee 51, Lenox 30
1991 Lee 73, Frontier 28
1992 Lenox 43, Lee 42
1993 Lee 72, Frontier 52
1994 Lee 76, Frontier 49
1995 Lee 52, Frontier 41
1996 Lee 56, Hopkins 28
1997 Lee 51, Frontier 40
1998 Lee 52, Pioneer 41
1999 Lee 57, Pioneer 47
2000 Frontier 38, Hopkins 36
2001 Smith Academy 48, Ware 40
2002 Smith Academy 47, Lee 44
2003 Lee 44, Hopkins 42
2004 Lee 62, Granby 39
2005 Lee 72, Hopkins 69
2006 Lee 46, Granby 42
2007 Granby 62, Lee 46
2008 Lee 63, Granby 43
2009 Lee 53, Monson 37