I thought there wouldn’t be that many changes in this week’s MIAA boys rankings. Then Sunday changed that.
There was a slew of matinee games featuring Top 10 teams on Sunday, and the outcomes produced a shakeup in this week’s rankings. Two previously Top 5 teams – Bridgewater-Raynham and Attleboro – lost at home to unranked squads. Neither fell out of the Top 10 altogether, but they both dropped to the bottom half.
The top three teams stayed the same and one team joined the rankings after No. 10 Pope Francis lost to Springfield Central in its rematch from Hoophall.
Here’s our new MIAA boys Top 10.
1. Central Catholic (12-3)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. Dracut, Feb. 2, 7 p.m.
The Raiders have remained in the top spot since winning the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic a month ago, and that likely won’t change this week. Home matchups with Dracut on Monday and St. John’s Prep on Sunday should theoretically serve as warmups for the inaugural MVC Cup and Board 27 Comcast Tournament the following week, when their strength of schedule will turn up a notch.
2. Andover (13-1)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at Chelmsford, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Nine consecutive wins since Dec. 30, including the last seven by double digits, are the picture of Andover’s recent dominance. The Golden Warriors’ dominant victory over Lowell on Friday was essentially over by halftime, and it was a mature effort from a young group that didn’t overlook an inferior opponent. Coach Dave Fazio’s team still sits below the top four in the Division 1 power rankings, but a harder upcoming schedule that includes the MVC Cup and a potential matchup with Cambridge at the Warrior Classic should improve their rating.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: How Andover has surpassed expectations this season
3. St. Mary’s (14-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Salem, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.
The Spartans have yet to really play a stressful game against an MIAA team this season; they kept rolling last week with a 15-point home win over Archbishop Williams followed by a 30-point blowout at Bishop Fenwick. Rolky Brea Arias’ 23-point, 24-rebound double-double vs. Archbishop Williams highlighted the week for St. Mary’s, and the Spartans had five players score in double figures vs. Fenwick. Wednesday’s road matchup against Salem – which is 12-1 with a win over Beverly and No. 2 in the Division 3 power rankings – might be this group’s biggest threat to an unbeaten regular season in-state.
4. Masconomet (11-1)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: at Winthrop, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
After Sunday’s 83-57 win over North Andover, the Chieftains are now on a six-game winning streak in which they’ve held opponents to 44.5 points per game, including three under 40 points. Coach Jaycob Morales has received contributions from everyone, including senior Colin Doherty – who had 15 points on five 3-pointers in Sunday’s win – senior Jamason Vella (15.2 points, 11 rebounds per game) and junior Thomas Denton (15.8 points, 10.2 rebounds per game). Sunday was special for senior Jimmy Farrell, who netted his 1,000th career point while scoring a game-high 25 points. He’s averaging 20.8 points per game this season.
5. Malden Catholic (14-2)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at BC High, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
The Lancers bounced back from their back-to-back losses to Catholic Memorial and Xaverian by reeling off three straight wins, including road league victories over St. John’s Prep and St. John’s (Shrewsbury), with Duke Cherry scoring a career-high 25 points and contributing 21 points and eight assists in the two games. MC, at 6-2, is one game ahead of CM, BC High and Xaverian in the Catholic Conference standings. The Lancers could claim back-to-back league championships with wins over BC High and CM – both on the road – this week.
6. Attleboro (14-2)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: at Milford, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
A 76-60 home loss to Catholic Memorial on Sunday snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Blue Bombardiers, who struggled with ball security against the Knights’ stingy defense. But it was a milestone day for senior LaDainian Rodrigues – who scored his 1,000th point – and Isaiah Outland has been a catalyst for Attleboro’s defense.
7. Oliver Ames (13-1)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Foxboro, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.
The Tigers have been on the outskirts of the Top 10 for the last month, but re-enter the rankings on the heels of a seven-game winning streak, with all of those victories coming by double digits. Their one loss this season came by six to Attleboro, and they earned a road win on Friday over Mansfield, which went on to take down Bridgewater-Raynham on Sunday. That sets up a Top 10 showdown between OA and B-R on Wednesday, which was rescheduled from Jan. 25 due to the winter storm.
8. Bridgewater-Raynham (11-2)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Oliver Ames, Feb. 4, 4 p.m.
Sunday was a rare off day for B-R, which hadn’t played in nine days and got stuck playing catch-up to Mansfield; they ultimately woke up too late in a 49-47 loss, and it was a good reminder for coach Doug Alves’ group – that projects to be at least top-five seed in the state tournament – that it only takes one loss in March to go home. On a positive note: Cam Santos has continued to be excellent for the Trojans. The senior is averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting better 40 percent from 3-point range.
9. Cambridge Rindge & Latin (10-2)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: vs. Weston, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
The Falcons have now won nine consecutive games after starting the season 1-2 after smooth victories over Wayland and Waltham last week. They were No. 8 in the MIAA’s last Division 1 power rankings, and they have a sneaky challenging Dual County matchup with 12-2 Weston on Tuesday.
10. Beverly (11-3)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: at Swampscott, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.
The Panthers had their best team defensive performance of the season in a dominant 61-28 victory at Marblehead before blowing out Danvers by 37. Jack Ulrich and Ben Doughty both scored in double figures for Beverly in the Danvers win as coach Matt Karakoudas had the luxury of going deeper into his bench. Matchups with Swampscott and Newton South loom this week before a big rematch with Masconomet next Monday.
The next five: Needham, Bishop Feehan, Salem, Pope Francis, Catholic Memorial
