If the first half of the MIAA boys basketball was any indication, the stretch run is going to be very fun.
The teams we expected to be top contenders have not disappointed, and rivalry matchups have delivered with several thrilling finishes. Buzzer-beaters and crazy shots have defined the greatest games. Many of the state’s brightest stars have exceeded their lofty expectations with brilliant seasons to date, and emerging young stars have made a name for themselves.
And yet, there’s still so much more to go. The best is yet to come in this MIAA season, with conference races heating up and the state tournaments looming closer than we realize, as players and programs look to cement their lasting legacies.
With a little more than half of the regular season complete, it’s a good time to take stock of what we’ve learned and what to look forward to during the stretch run. Here are some of my midseason takeaways.
MORE MIDSEASON REPORTS: NEPSAC Boys | NEPSAC Girls | MIAA Girls
As good as advertised
1. Malden Catholic (10-1) – The reigning three-time Division 2 champions have just one blemish on their record, a close conference road loss to Catholic Memorial last week. The Lancers, led by star senior Matt Gaffney, have otherwise taken care of business, battering teams with a 23.8 scoring differential. And they’re doing it all without star forward Ben Howard, who averaged a double-double last season but is expected back soon. This squad is primed for another Div. 2 title run, but before then, they’re hoping to claim their first Catholic Conference crown with Gaffney.
RELATED: Inside Matt Gaffney and Malden Catholic's quest for a Div. 2 four-peat
2. Newton North (12-1) – Led by senior Teagan Swint, one of the best scorers in the state, the Tigers have taken an expected next step under head coach Paul Connolly after making the round of 16 in last season’s Division 1 tournament. They have not lost to a team in MIAA, with their one loss coming to Albany (Calif.) at the Hoophall Classic, and their resume includes wins over Brookline, Catholic Memorial and Central Catholic. They remain a strong favorite in Div. 1.
3. Central Catholic (11-3) – After returning six of their top eight players from last season’s state tournament team, expectations were high for the Raiders, and they’ve met them so far. Junior captain Javi Lopez has taken his game to the next level this season, averaging more than 24 points per game to lead Central to a 7-0 start in the Merrimack Valley Conference, which includes a win over Lowell.
4. Lowell (12-1) – The Red Raiders returned their core from a team that made last season’s round of 8 in the Division 1 state tourney, and they look like a squad that’s ready to go deeper in March this time. Tzar Powell-Aparicio has been arguably the best player in the state, as the senior guard has put up stat-stuffing performances on both ends on a nightly basis. Backcourt mate Jason Kamau has taken a leap, too. Their only loss came on the road against Central, a game they led by 10 at one point.
5. Bourne (10-1) – The Canalmen entered the season as the clear-cut favorite in Division 4 after making the championship game last season, and so far, there’s no reason to believe otherwise. Their only loss has come to South Coast rival Somerset Berkley, who’s in Division 2, and each of their wins have come by double digits. Seniors Nate Reynolds and Mike Dankert, as expected, have been essentially unstoppable. They’ve each been trading monster double-doubles and they look ready to bring home glory to Bourne.
RELATED: Our MIAA Girls Midseason ReportÂ
3 surprises
Franklin’s dominant start – It’s not necessarily surprising that the Panthers remain among the best teams in the state, but it was hard to expect that they would start the season 14-0 after they lost six of their top eight players from last season’s Div. 1 runner-up squad that went 25-2. Caden Sullivan has taken his game to the next level, and he’s surrounded by a group of seniors that has waited for its opportunity to play and have made the most of it. Franklin’s average margin of victory is 20.8 points, and its defense has been dominant, holding opponents to 44.6 points per game.
Catholic Memorial surpassing early expectations – After the departures of Ryan Higgins, Josiah Adamson and Jacob Cofield from last season’s Final Four team, it was understandable to think the Knights may take a step back this winter. But head coach Denis Tobin’s young group, led by sophomore guard Aiden Pires, has been better than expected. CM (9-3) could challenge Malden Catholic for the Catholic Conference title, and they’ll certainly be a threat in March.
City League’s best reload – Few teams lost as much talent from last season as Charlestown and Holland (Burke). Charlestown, last year’s Division 3 champion, lost Jaylin Williams-Crawford and Jaylen Hunter-Coleman to prep schools, while Holland (Burke), which made the Div. 4 Final Four, lost Jaeden Roberts and Malik Adamson to the same route. But both schools have enjoyed strong starts in the City League. The Townies are 7-3 with a 4-2 mark in the City League, while the Bulldogs, led by senior guard Jasaad Fenton, are 10-2 – which includes a strong out-of-state victory over East Catholic (Conn.) – with a 6-0 mark in league play. Both schools have positioned themselves well for the City League playoffs in addition to the state tournament in March.
Breakout players to know
The MIAA is littered with established stars who have continued to assert themselves as the faces of the state, including Gaffney, Sullivan, Swint, Lopez and Powell-Aparicio. But I’ve been impressed with some less-heralded players who have produced consistent performances.
Five names that have stood out to me: Beverly junior Jacob Klass, who has eclipsed 30 points four times this season, is averaging 24.1 points per game as one of the best scorers in the state. Two bigs, Lowell sophomore Collin Christiansen and Brookline senior Alan Shi (who returned from a brief stint at Brewster Academy) have been consistent forces inside. Wakefield junior Jack Millward has put up a pair of 40-point performances while leading the Warriors to a 7-4 record. Andover junior Owen Crowley, who played at Bradford Christian last season, returned to the MIAA ranks and has been a big contributor for the 9-4 Warriors, including being named to the all-tournament team of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
The first half of the season has included a glimpse of the future with a handful of standout freshmen, too. Aidan McGrath and Lucas Short have been an outstanding rookie duo for 11-2 North Quincy, Jacari Jenkins has put up big scoring performances as a starter for 9-3 Catholic Memorial, Jake Fortier has impressed as a shifty scoring guard for 13-0 St. Mary’s and Darien Rudder has been impactful for Putnam Vo-Tech.
3 questions
Can Attleboro topple Franklin for the Hockomock League title?
Entering the season, Attleboro – which brought back almost exactly the same team as last year – were the favorite in the Hockomock. But the Bombardiers will have to play catch-up. Through 10 league games, Franklin is 10-0 and Attleboro is 9-1, with the difference coming in Franklin’s 52-37 home victory on Jan. 10, a game when Attleboro was missing starter LaDainian Rodrigues. The rematch comes Feb. 7 at Attleboro, a game that could decide the league title.
Who will emerge in Div. 1?
There will certainly be a new Division 1 champion this winter, with back-to-back champion Worcester North in rebuilding mode. There are a handful of contenders who represent as favorites right now. Newton North, Franklin, Central Catholic and Lowell are in their own class right now, in my opinion. But that’s not set in stone. Attleboro and Andover are right on the cusp of that group with the talent and experience to make a deep run.
Will anyone challenge Malden Catholic in Div. 2?
The Lancers are undoubtedly the favorite in Div. 2 and claim a rare four-peat. Last season, the only real test Malden Catholic had in the D2 tournament was from Somerset Berkley in a 50-48 win in the semifinals. The Raiders are 11-1 to start this season and could be a threat again. In the Hockomock League, 10-2 Mansfield and 9-4 Oliver Ames have enjoyed strong starts and could be tough outs in March. Pope Francis, at 11-1 out of Western Mass. with a dominant win over Bishop Hendricken (R.I.), is just ahead of MC at No. 1 in the MIAA Div. 2 power rankings. But the state title seems to be the Lancers’ to lose again.
