Through five weeks of the MIAA boys basketball season, our No. 1 team has remained untouched.
Malden Catholic, the three-time reigning Div. 2 champion, has not budged from its perch atop our Top 10. But with the conference season in full swing, last week saw some more movement.
With Central Catholic’s big victory over Lowell on Friday, the Top 5 has a new look, and there’s one new team making its season debut in the rankings.
Let’s take a look at the latest MIAA boys Top 10.
1. Malden Catholic (9-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Next game: at Catholic Memorial, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.
The Lancers picked up a couple of comfortable Catholic Conference victories – 77-38 over St. John’s Prep and 75-57 at BC High – last week to improve to 4-0 in the conference, but the upcoming week will be pivotal in their chase for a league crown. MC heads to second-place Catholic Memorial – which is coming off a big win over Attleboro – before hosting Xaverian, which it squeaked by on the road a few weeks ago.
2. Newton North (10-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Next game: at Central Catholic, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
The Tigers lost their first game of the season on Thursday at the Hoophall Classic, falling in overtime to Albany (Calif.), but we’re not penalizing them for that in these rankings. Head coach Paul Connolly’s group remains a top dog in Division 1, and Tuesday’s clash at Central Catholic will be a good barometer for them.
3. Franklin (12-0)
Previous ranking: 4
Next game: vs. Canton, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.
The Panthers continued to roll with three more double-digit victories last week, including a 22-point win over Stoughton. Head coach CJ Neely’s group has dug in defensively this season with five games of holding its opponent to fewer than 40 points.
4. Central Catholic (10-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Next game: vs. Newton North, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
Led by Javi Lopez, the Raiders boast a resilient group that didn’t blink when they fell behind by 10 to Lowell last Friday night. Tuesday’s home date against Newton North presents another chance for head coach Mark Dunham’s group to move up in the rankings.
5. Lowell (10-1)
Previous ranking: 2
Next game: at Tewksbury, Jan. 21, 5:30 p.m.
The Red Raiders bounced back from Friday’s tough loss to Central Catholic – their first of the season – with Sunday’s 72-60 win over a strong Bridgewater-Raynham squad.
6. St. Mary’s (12-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Next game: vs. Bishop Fenwick, Jan. 24, 6:30 p.m.
The Spartans won their three games last week by an average margin of 14 points as they stayed at the top of the Catholic Central standings.
7. Arlington (10-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Next game: vs. Melrose, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
James Dingham scored 28 points and sat the final quarter in Arlington’s dominant 60-28 victory over Bedford (N.H.) on Sunday. The Spy Ponders are on a seven-game winning streak.
8. Attleboro (9-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Next game: vs. North Attleborough, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.
The Bombardiers have taken some lumps recently with two losses in their last four games, including Sunday’s last-second loss to Catholic Memorial. Head coach Mark Houle’s group remains one game behind Franklin in the Hockomock League.
9. Andover (8-3)
Previous ranking: 7
Next game: vs. Billerica, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.
The Golden Warriors are 2-3 since winning the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic, including back-to-back defeats last week – 54-41 at Tewksbury and 51-37 to top 2026 prospect Abdou Toure and Notre Dame (West Haven) at the Hoophall Classic. But head coach Dave Fazio’s group has a good opportunity to get back on track this week with Billerica on Tuesday and a home clash with Central Catholic on Friday night.
10. Mansfield (8-2)
Previous ranking: NR
Next game: at Taunton, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.
The Hornets make their season debut in the Top 10. As of Monday, they’re fourth in the MIAA’s Division 2 power rankings and own strong wins over Bishop Feehan and Bridgewater-Raynham.
DROPPED OUT: Brookline
ON THE RADAR: Catholic Memorial, Brookline, Somerset Berkley, Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Bridgewater-Raynham
