A few weeks ago, the North Andover girl’s team had a radio interview in the studio at local station WCCM. The girls ended up singing Christmas carols on the sports talk show, much to the delight of host Frankie Benjamin, who told the team he expected them to go out and win the Christmas Tournament.

They listened.

Last weekend, the North Andover girls’ squad fought its way from a late 10-point deficit to win its first Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament Championship since 2004.

A 19-point MVP performance from senior tricaptain Morgan Lumb still left the Scarlet Knights short in the championship game though, as the team trailed by seven late in the third quarter after being behind most of the game. It would take a last-second runner in the lane as time expired from sophomore Megan Collins to get them over the top and give North Andover a 45-44 victory over Central Catholic, regarded by many as the best team in the state.

On her expectations for the team, Lumb said: “Well obviously we’re really confident, but what’s going to help us the most is staying humble because now the target’s on our back. Our work ethic is better than it’s been before. We work harder at practice.”

“That wasn’t the best game we ever played,” said senior tricaptain Pam Coufos, “so that just shows we can still beat a good team when we’re not at our best. On our best day, we can beat anyone if we really put our minds to it.”