Here is the first in-season installment of the Boston Herald EMass Top 25 boys basketball rankings. Records are through Saturday, December 30 and are as close to accurate as we could ascertain. Only games that count towards tournament seeding are stated. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to report their scores to Arbiter.

1. Catholic Memorial (4-0)

2. Franklin (6-1)

3. North Andover (4-1)

4. Mansfield (3-0)

5. Sharon (4-0)

6. Newton North (4-1)

7. Lawrence (5-2)

8. Needham (4-1)

9. Wareham (5-2)

10. Lowell (5-2)

11. Xaverian (3-0)

12. BC High (2-1)

13. Charlestown (3-0)

14. Malden Catholic (2-3)

15. Cambridge (4-1)

16. Andover (4-3)

17. Everett (5-1)

18. Canton (4-1)

19. Westwood (5-0)

20. Central Catholic (3-3)

21. Belmont (4-1)

22. Reading (5-1)

23. Waltham (4-0)

24. Dartmouth (3-2)

25. Methuen (4-2)

ON THE BENCH: St. Mary’s (4-1), Burke (3-2), Taunton (3-2), St. John’s Prep (3-2), Tewksbury (4-1), Bedford (4-1), Middleboro (3-0), Norwell (4-0), Weston (4-0), Bridgewater-Raynham (3-3), Attleboro (4-1)