With four teams from the league in my preseason top 10, I was a little higher than some of the Merrimack Valley Conference coming into this winter.
But with so much talent returning from last season, when several MVC teams made deep runs in the Div. 1 state tournament, the rankings were warranted. Two weeks in, the league hasn’t disappointed, with those aforementioned four teams – Lowell, North Andover, Central Catholic and Andover – combining for a 10-1 record, with the one loss coming from a head-to-head matchup.
It’s about to heat up atop arguably the best conference in the MIAA. Several teams will be heading to Merrimack College on Friday for the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic – which includes a head-to-head matchup between North Andover and Lawrence – before the calendar turns to 2025, when some exciting MVC nights await.
There’s no rest for MIAA teams during winter break. Let’s dive into the latest rankings as play continues on Friday.
1. Malden Catholic (2-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: vs. Bishop Guertin (N.H.), Dec. 27
Two convincing wins – 80-62 over Newton South and 81-45 over Burncoat – have only strengthened the three-time Div. 2 reigning champs’ hold on the top spot in our power rankings. The Lancers are without senior starter Ben Howard, who’s expected back later in the season, but their underclassmen – including sophomores Mamadou Camara, Jalil Lawson and Jeremiah Figaro – have helped fill in the void.
MORE: Standouts from Malden Catholic's home-opening win over Burncoat
2. Lowell (3-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: at Pelham (N.H.), Dec. 27, 3:45 p.m.
One of the most impressive early-season MIAA wins came last Friday, when Lowell went into North Andover and came away with a 58-45 victory. The Red Raiders look like the early frontrunner in the MVC.
3. Central Catholic (3-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: vs. St. John’s Prep, Dec. 27, 6 p.m.
Central Catholic exacted a little revenge on Lawrence – which beat them in the state tournament last season – with a come-from-behind win over its MVC rival last Friday. The Raiders trailed by double digits early, but sparked by sophomore Jordan Marion, they completed the comeback. Junior guard Javi Lopez, expectedly, has had a strong start to the season, averaging 21.7 points through three games.
4. Newton North (3-0)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: vs. Newton South, Dec. 27, 6 p.m.
The final score of Newton North’s 63-43 win over Natick last Friday may indicate it was a breeze for the Tigers, but that wasn’t the case, as they needed to rally from 10 down after the first quarter before ultimately improving to 3-0. Senior guard Teagan Swint – who had 33 points in Newton North’s win over Wellesley – has been terrific, as expected.
5. Attleboro (2-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: at Lynn English, Dec. 27, 2 p.m.
The preseason Hockomock favorite, Attleboro cruised to two season-opening wins over Canton and Taunton. But now, the Bombardiers have an early-season test that I’m curious how they respond to – five of their next six games are on the road, including two tough ones against league foes Mansfield and Franklin.
6. Andover (3-0)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: vs. Beverly, Dec. 27, 3:15 p.m.
The Golden Warriors have already have a few impressive wins under their belt, including beating a surging Brookline squad by 13 and a pair of MVC wins, featuring a road win at Methuen. Sam Concemi and Josh Roux have led the show for head coach Dave Fazio.
7. Franklin (4-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: vs. Brockton, Dec. 30, 5 p.m.
With major turnover from last season’s team that made the Div. 1 state final, I thought the Panthers would need some time to gel. But it seems like they’re just picking up where they left off, with their four wins coming by 18.8 points per game. Their defense has been the best in the Hockomock League, too, holding opponents to 42 points per game.
8. Catholic Memorial (2-0)
Previous ranking: 10
Next game: vs. Arlington, Dec. 27, 4 p.m.
Led by senior John Hoenscheid and sophomore Aiden Pires, the Knights – who lost a lot of firepower from last season’s Final Four team – have started strong with two dominant wins over Wachusett and Hingham. Some real tests begin now, with a strong Arlington team on Friday before they begin Catholic Conference play in January.
9. North Andover (1-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: vs. Lawrence, Dec. 27, 7:45 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights drop significantly in this week’s rankings after their 13-point home loss to Lowell, but I still like head coach Paul Tanglis’ senior-laded group, which will certainly have its say in the MVC this winter.
10. Bourne (3-0)
Previous ranking: 9
Next game: at Somerset Berkley, Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m.
The Canalmen, to no one’s surprise, have won each of their first three games decisively, with their 1-2 punch of Nate Reynolds and Mike Dankert leading the charge. Their upcoming game at Somerset Berkley is likely their biggest test on the schedule.
On the radar: Mansfield (2-0), Brookline (3-1), Holland School of Technology (Burke) (3-0), Somerset Berkley (2-0), Cambridge (2-0)
