Lowell opened the high school basketball season with a statement. The youthful Red Raiders went on the road and knocked off two-time Division 2 champion Malden Catholic, 64-50, on Monday for the marquee victory of the opening week. As a result, Lowell jumps from unranked to No. 11 in this week’s Globe poll.
Sharon also notched a pair of impressive wins over Taunton and Canton, vaulting the Eagles from outside the Top 20 to No. 9, alongside Hockomock League foes Franklin (No. 8) and Mansfield (No. 3). North Andover moves up to No. 6 after defeating No. 8 Lawrence on Friday in a Merrimack Valley showdown.
Brookline, Wareham, and Cambridge were the other teams who went from unranked to the Top 20, while Malden Catholic drops from No. 2 to No. 12 following the loss to Lowell.
The MVC has a big week on tap as Lawrence, No. 5 Central Catholic, and Lowell all play one another before Christmas.
The Globe’s Top 20 boys’ basketball poll
The Globe poll as of Dec. 19, 2023. Teams were selected by the Globe sports staff.
| No. | Team | Record | Previous |
| 1. | Needham | 2-0-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Catholic Memorial | 2-0-0 | 3 |
| 3. | Mansfield | 2-0-0 | 4 |
| 4. | Newton North | 2-0-0 | 5 |
| 5. | Central Catholic | 1-0-0 | 6 |
| 6. | North Andover | 1-0-0 | 8 |
| 7. | Franklin | 2-0-0 | 9 |
| 8. | Lawrence | 1-1-0 | 7 |
| 9. | Sharon | 2-0-0 | – |
| 10. | Charlestown | 1-0-0 | 10 |
| 11. | Lowell | 2-0-0 | – |
| 12. | Malden Catholic | 1-1-0 | 2 |
| 13. | Burke | 1-0-0 | 13 |
| 14. | St. Mary’s | 2-0-0 | 11 |
| 15. | Brookline | 2-0-0 | – |
| 16. | Westwood | 3-0-0 | 19 |
| 17. | Scituate | 3-0-0 | 20 |
| 18. | Wareham | 2-0-0 | – |
| 19. | Cambridge | 1-1-0 | – |
| 20. | BC High | 0-0-0 | 17 |
Nate Weitzer can be reached at nweitzer7@gmail.com. Follow him on X @nweitzer7.