The MIAA basketball season has surpassed the halfway mark, and Monday represents exactly one month before the official end of the regular season. The picture of the state’s top contenders has become clear.
Eight of this week’s Top 10 have one in-state loss or fewer, and after a week that included a handful of marquee games, there’s some clarity at the top of Division 1 and 2. The most significant result of the week came last Monday, when St. Mary’s took down Masconomet in a battle of Division 2 contenders.
In Division 1, there looks to be a serious race for a top-four seed in the state tournament, which guarantees home-court advantage through the quarterfinals. The difference between No. 4 and No. 8 in last Friday’s MIAA power rankings was 0.1318 in the ratings.
Let’s check in on our new MIAA boys Top 10, which features the same teams as last week but has several changes.
1. Central Catholic (8-3)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. Lawrence, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
The Raiders lost twice last week, and I came even more convinced that they’re the best MIAA boys team. That’s because the losses came to Brewster Academy’s nationally-ranked EYBL team and then Bergen Catholic (N.J.), which features a Top 100 player, and Central showed well in both games. They trailed by only 12 going into the fourth quarter of the loss to Brewster and nearly pulled off the win in a wild overtime game vs. Bergen Catholic at the Hoophall Classic. The Raiders led by 12 at halftime and almost held off the comeback. Jordan Marion, Ademola Ajao and Drew O’Keefe all had big weeks alongside star Javi Lopez, who scored 36 vs. Bergen Catholic, and Central vaulted to the top of MIAA’s Division 1 power rankings.
The Raiders’ 8-1 record listed here only reflects games vs. in-state teams.
2. Andover (10-1)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at Dracut, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
The Golden Warriors, who are on a six-game winning streak, maintained their lead over Central Catholic in the Merrimack Valley Conference standings, with a 6-0 mark to Central’s 5-1. Coach Dave Fazio’s team won three games by double digits last week. Star junior Josh Roux, who scored 25 points in the win over Lawrence, somehow played through a 102-degree fever in Friday’s win over Lawrence to contribute 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. But Fazio didn’t need to have any fear; Charlie Tutwiler, who continued his outstanding sophomore season, picked up the slack with 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists while providing shutdown defense on Lexington star Sam Myerberg.
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3. St. Mary’s (11-1)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: vs. Cathedral, Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m.
It’s clear to me that the Spartans, right now, are the team to beat in Division 2 after their impressive 75-61 victory over Masconomet last Monday. They overcame early adversity after three first-quarter fouls for star Rolky Brea-Arias, and they hit their stride in the second half. Coach Josh Keilty boasts so many weapons, but Rowan Merryman deserves some more love as another scorer who has provided stifling defense. St. Mary’s also handled Central (R.I.), our No. 5 team in Rhode Island, with an 82-62 victory. The Spartans lost to St. Francis (N.Y.) on Saturday but remain undefeated in-state, and there’s certainly a path to an undefeated regular season.
4. Malden Catholic (11-0)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Catholic Memorial, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.
The Lancers held on over St. John’s Prep, 67-62, in a difficult Catholic Conference road win before taking care of BC High with a 54-41 win on Friday night. They have two league games this week – Catholic Memorial and then at Xaverian – before a matchup with defending Rhode Island state champion La Salle on Saturday. Aboubakar Nimaka and Jeremiah Figaro have remained forces inside for coach Mark Garrity’s group.
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5. Bridgewater-Raynham (8-1)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at Durfee, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.
The Trojans grabbed two easy wins over Dartmouth and Barnstable before a surviving a rematch with New Bedford – who they beat by 22 on Dec. 22 – on Monday in a game at Cathedral. New Bedford’s Diego Montanari missed a would-be game-winning runner at the buzzer as B-R took home the win, 53-52. That’s a good win for coach Doug Alves’ group; the Whalers had won five in a row since that Dec. 22 loss. The Trojans continued to get contributions up and down the roster, including from Luke Tirrell (16 points, three 3-pointers vs. Barnstable) and Cam Santos, who scored 24 points (20 in the first half) with 12 rebounds in Monday’s win.
6. Attleboro (10-1)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: at North Attleboro, Jan. 20, 7:15 p.m.
The Blue Bombardiers are riding a six-game winning streak after passing a tough test over Bishop Feehan on Sunday in an 83-80 win. Connor Houle matched his career high with 32 points and found Shane Hanrahan for a game-winning 3-pointer with seconds remaining. This group continues to find ways to win in close games, which should bode well down the stretch.
7. Winchester (12-0)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: vs. Burlington, Jan. 20, 6 p.m.
The Red & Black remain unblemished, but they sat in just 15th in the MIAA’s Div. 1 power rankings last Friday due to an opponent rating of 2.7210, which is the lowest of the top 24 teams. Remaining games against Burlington, at Lexington and two against Arlington could improve that number.
8. Masconomet (7-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Methuen, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
The final score (75-61) of the Chieftains’ loss to St. Mary’s is a bit misleading. They led early in the second half and showed well on the road in a tough environment against a good team, and they lost juice in the fourth quarter, especially with star Jimmy Farrell fighting through a fever. Coach Jaycob Morales hoped it was a wake-up call; his group responded with a win over Saugus the next day and then a big 69-51 victory at home over Beverly, powered by Jamason Vella’s 21 points and 14 rebounds. That’s a good sign.
9. Cambridge Rindge & Latin (7-2)
Previous rank: 10
Next game: at Lincoln-Sudbury, Jan. 23, 7 p.m.
The Falcons played just once last week and took care of business with a 71-46 victory over Newton South, led by Levi Daniels-Prempeh’s 14-point, 10-rebound, three-steal effort.
10. Beverly (7-3)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: at Peabody, Jan. 20, 7 p.m.
The Panthers are now two games behind both Masconomet and Salem for first place in the Northeastern Conference following Friday’s loss to the Chieftains. But a 73-45 victory over Lowell at TD Garden in Sunday’s Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational was a good response in the right direction. Jacob Klass scored 23 points in Beverly’s best defensive performance of the season.
The next five: Oliver Ames, New Bedford, Bishop Feehan, Needham, Pope Francis
Each of these five teams are knocking on the door and ready to pounce into the Top 10. Oliver Ames (10-1) has just one loss to Attleboro, and have a big opportunity on Sunday at Bridgewater Raynham, while New Bedford (8-2) was a play away in Monday’s loss to B-R. Needham (10-1) got a big win over Newton North on Friday and were No. 4 in the last Division 1 power rankings. Pope Francis (10-1) is firmly on my radar as a threat in Div. 2. The Cardinals are the only team in Massachusetts that has lost to St. Mary’s by single digits.
