Final Regular Season MIAA Top 25 Boys Basketball Poll

Jerrod Clark and No. 6 Brighon strut into the state tournament after winning a BCL title

Our rankings of the best basketball teams in the state at the end of 2016-17 regular season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 2/24)

1. Cambridge (19-0; Last Ranking  –  1): The Falcons extended their winning streak to 40 at the Tuscan Brands Round Ball Classic before edging Central Catholic, 70-61, to finish their season. They’ll enter the D1 State Tournament as the odds-on favorites to repeat.

2. BC High (18-2; Last Ranking  –  2):  Travis Evee and Carl Pierre were transcendent in Comcast Classic wins over Newton North (63-62) and Brighton (77-73) as the Eagles sharpened their talons ahead of the state tournament.

3. Mansfield (20-2; Last Ranking  –  3): The Hornets will enter the D1 South bracket as the number one seed, but do they have what it takes to finally get past Catholic Memorial in a potential quarterfinals matchup?

4. Everett (17-2; Last Ranking  –  4): The Tide wrapped up their regular season with dominant wins over Lowell and Malden.

5. St. John’s Prep (16-5; Last Ranking  –  5): Prep is capable of beating nearly any team in the state, but also vulnerable to a potential early-round upset if they draw a tough matchup in the D1 North bracket.

6. Brighton (17-5; Last Ranking  –  12): After defeating Needham in the Comcast Classic and besting O’Bryant and Tech Boston to win the Boston City League championship, the Bengals are primed for a deep run in the D2 State Tournament.

7. Needham (17-5; Last Ranking  –  6): The Rockets bested rival Newton North for the second time this year and might face the Tigers down the line in a 3-6 matchup in the D1 South bracket.

8. Catholic Memorial (15-5; Last Ranking  –  14): Riding a 7-game winning streak that includes the only two wins against BC High this year, CM is a team that no one wants to face in the big dance.

9. Franklin (18-4; Last Ranking  –  9): Panthers finished the season strong with a double-digit win over Tech Boston at home.

10. Newton North (16-6; Last Ranking  –  8): Don’t let the six losses fool you, because the Tigers have championship pedigree and enough talent to compete with anyone come March.

11. Central Catholic (17-5; Last Ranking  –  16): With a 70-61 loss to Cambridge, the Raiders accomplished what only one other team in the state has this year in losing by fewer than 10 points to the reigning champs.

12. Arlington (19-0; Last Ranking  –  24): A young team from one of the less competitive conferences in the state, Arlington showed that they can play with anyone by winning the D2 title at the Comcast Classic to earn the top seed in D2 North.

13. New Mission (15-7; Last Ranking  –  6):   Somehow, someway, the Bears of Tech Boston beat the Titans at their own game in a stunning 63-53 loss during the Boston City League tournament.
  

14. St. John’s (Shrewsbury) (17-3; Last Ranking  –  10):  Algonquin snapped the Pioneers 12-game winning streak in a 74-71 shootout, but Bob Foley’s squad is still one of the favorites in D1 Central.

15. Boston Cathedral (15-5; Last Ranking  –  18): They may enter the D4 South bracket as the 2 seed, but the Panthers could be considered the statewide favorites in that field.

16. Lowell (15-5; Last Ranking  –  15): While they may struggle against teams with plus size down low, the Red Raiders can match up with any guard-heavy teams in the state.

17. Springfield Central (16-2; Last Ranking  –  13): The Golden Eagles tried their luck against an EMass power and went home empty-handed after suffering a 70-53 loss at Everett.

18. O’Bryant (15-6; Last Ranking  –  11): This year, the Tigers were unable to upset Brighton in the BCL Tournament and they’ll enter the big dance as the 5 seed in the D2 South bracket.

19. Bridgewater-Raynham (16-4; Last Ranking  –  19): Trojans took care of business in their conference schedule and earned the 4 seed in D1 South as a result.

20. Tech Boston (15-5; Last Ranking  –  NA): Another dangerous team entering the D2 State Tournament with plenty of momentum, as the Bears managed to upset New Mission and played Brighton tough in the BCL Final.

21. Lynn Classical (17-3; Last Ranking  –  23): Spartans took down rival Marblehead to win the Northeastern Conference regular season title and have their sights set on a deep run in the D2 North bracket

22. Concord-Carlisle (15-5; Last Ranking  –  25): Patriots finished their season on a nine-game winning streak and have the talent to make another deep run in the state tournament.

23. Weston (20-3; Last Ranking  –  20): Wildcats are one of the more dangerous teams in the D3 State Tournament and they’ll enter the North bracket as the 3 seed.

24. Metheun (14-6; Last Ranking  –  NA): Look out for Kevin Fernandez and Metheun in the D1 North bracket.

25. Marblehead (18-3; Last Ranking  –  21): The Magicians will still be a tough out as the 2 seed in the D2 North bracket.  

Last 10 out:  Andover (12-8), Bedford (14-6), Braintree (11-7), Brookline (13-7), Hanover (16-3), Holliston (15-5), Malden Catholic (12-7), Matignon (18-2), Nashoba (17-4), Westwood (19-3)