_02.jpg "Oliver Ames’ Caitlyn Abela (left) looks to pass over Attleboro’s Bri Laplume. Below from left, Ames’ co-captains Asia Mitchell and Abela, with junior forward Michaela Lievi.")
Coach Marc Liberatore said his squad has leaned on three returning starters: Murphy, Zach Ruby, and Dan Rafuse , in addition to junior James Loring , a 6-foot-6 center who is averaging a team-leading 18 points per game.
The Lancers have a big test Tuesday against visiting Westwood, the team that ended their season last year and dealt Norton its first loss this season, 60-50, on Jan. 11.
“Even if we get down, because we’ve been in so many close games, we’re usually going to stick around to the end,” Liberatore said. “We learned our lesson [last season] to just concentrate on the game in front of you. . . . As long as we can do that for the next three, we’ll be in it to the end.”
Closing in
With 10 days left in the regular season for most, the boys’ race in the Patriot League is down to the wire. The Fisher Division’s top two, Scituate and North Quincy, were separated by half a game before their scheduled matchup on Friday. The Keenan Division’s top two, Hingham and Silver Lake, are a game apart and will play each other Thursday. . . . Since suffering their only two losses of the year (Springfield, Ore., and Newton North), the Braintree girls ran off four straight wins, with a victory margin of 24.75 points per game.
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @timbhealey.
