The Big Three Conference (Big 3) is a high school athletic conference located in District 8 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The league was founded in 1990 by high schools Brockton, Durfee, and New Bedford.
History The Big Three was created when Brockton, Durfee, and New Bedford found themselves in a difficult situation during the 1989-1990 season. Due to realignment, the Southeastern Conference dissolved into the Pilgrim Conference and Eastern Coastal League. Durfee and New Bedford were left out of these conferences due to their size. The end of the Suburban League put Brockton in a similar position. The Big 3 became a place where the three similarly sized schools could schedule competitive games across all sports.
At the end of the 2018-19 season, New Bedford left the conference due to declining numbers, causing the rest to leave. The members would come back together in 2019 to create the Southeast Conference, along with Dartmouth High School and Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.
The conference returned in 2024, with the same three members all leaving the Southeast Conference.
Member Schools +SchoolLocationMascotColorsYear FoundedEnrollmentBrockton High SchoolBrockton, MassachusettsBoxersBlack & Red 18703,598B.M.C. Durfee High SchoolFall River, MassachusettsHilltoppersRed & Black 18872,435New Bedford High SchoolNew Bedford, MassachusettsWhalersRed & White 18272,878
State Championships This is a list of MIAA State championships won by schools while a part of the Big Three Conference
Football Note: From 1972 to 2012, football state championships were separated by region, so there was multiple champions from each division. From 1972 to 1977 and from 1997 to 2008, it was split between Eastern Mass and Central/Western Mass with two champions in each division. From 1978 to 1996 and from 2009 to 2012 Central and Western Mass split, so there was three champions in each division. In 2013 everything was combined, so only one state champion per division was allowed.
Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-football.pdf
Brockton - 1991, 1992, 1996 D1A Eastern; 2004, 2005 D1 Eastern New Bedford - 1993, 1994 D1A Eastern
Fall Volleyball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-volleyball.pdf
New Bedford - 1994, 2009 D1
Cross Country Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-track-cross-country.pdf
Boys
Brockton - 2005, 2006 D1
Girls
Durfee - 1990 D1
Soccer Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-soccer.pdf
Boys
Brockton - 2017 D1
Basketball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-04/miaa-state-champions-basketball.pdf
Boys
Brockton - 2012 D1 New Bedford - 1993, 1994 D1
Girls
Brockton - 1991, 2001 D1
Indoor Track Source:
Boys
Brockton - 1991 (Co-Champs with St. John's), 1991–1994, 1996, 2000, 2001 D1 New Bedford - 2011 D1
Baseball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-baseball.pdf
Brockton - 1997 D1 Durfee - 1995 D1 New Bedford - 1993, 1994, 1998 D1
Softball Source:https://www.miaa.net/sites/default/files/2024-05/miaa-state-champions-softball.pdf
Brockton - 2000 D1 Durfee - 1998, 2004 D1
Outdoor Track Source:
Boys
Brockton - 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 All-State New Bedford - 1993, 1995, 2002 All-State
Spring Volleyball Source:
New Bedford - 1991, 1993–1995, 1997–1999
External links
Brockton High School B.M.C. Durfee High School New Bedford High School
References