On Wednesday night, the Tigers, en masse, made the trek to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence to watch the Orange, the seventh-ranked Syracuse University men’s basketball team.

An elite Division 3 high school girls’ basketball program, an elite Division 1 collegiate men’s basketball program, with a common thread: family.

Syracuse sophomore Michael Carter­-Williams made a triumphant return to New England, directing the Orange to a 72-66 win over Providence College. Leading the nation in assists, the 6-foot-5 Carter-Williams started his high school career at Hamilton-Wenham Regional before transferring to St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, R.I. A career in the NBA is potentially on the horizon, but he is already the center of attention.

After Monday’s win, he was mobbed courtside in Providence by family, friends, and former teammates, who were taking photos, giving hugs, and offering congratulations on his 16-point, 6-assist performance. His mother, Mandy Carter-Zegarowski, the girls’ basketball coach at Ipswich High, his sister Masey , a sophomore point guard for the Tigers, and the rest of her teammates were front and center.

The same type of scene played out Monday night in Ipswich after the ­Tigers toppled Cape Ann rival Lynnfield, 55-24.

About 100 people — parents, classmates, members of the community — gathered on the gymnasium floor, waiting for the Ipswich girls to emerge from the locker room.

For a few young girls, their eyes bright with excitement, it was a chance to say “good game tonight, Julia!” as senior cocaptain Julia Davis  walked by.

In Providence, Michael Carter­Williams was the hero. In Ipswich, it was the Tiger girls.

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that Carter-Williams is thriving as the starting point guard at Syracuse is the foundation he received from his family growing up. His mother and step­father, Zach Zegarowski , both played high school and college ball, and then went on to coach.

Carter-Williams watched his stepfather work the bench as an assistant at Charlestown High, which won five state titles, including four straight from 2000-2003.

His mother’s squad followed up a 16-4 regular season a year ago with a run to the Division 3 North final before falling to eventual state champion Pentucket Regional.

He attributes his success to his parents, noting “without them I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

At Ipswich, Carter-Zegarowski, ­Davis, and fellow senior cocaptain Brigid O’Flynn  point to the team’s family-oriented atmosphere as the biggest component of their success.

“Our team is like a family, but win or lose, we play together. There’s so much support from the community,” said the coach.

How could the team not thrive on the chemistry and tradition a family brings?

Masey Zegarowski, a poised playmaker, grew up watching her older brother rise to stardom, and has garnered attention of her own, joining ­Davis in earning all-league honors last season.

Davis and O’Flynn understand what it’s like growing up with siblings in the spotlight. When they were sophomores, their older sisters ­— Abigail and Rachel Davis, and Hannah ­O’Flynn   — were seniors on the team. Rachel and Hannah were captains, and Hannah was a 1,000-point scorer.

“I’ve been really privileged,” Brigid O’Flynn said of her opportunity to play with her sister.

“But over time, everyone has their stand. Leadership roles fit me best. I may not be the best, but I always encourage everyone else.”

While O’Flynn is more of a role player, described by her coach as “a tremendous leader” who “does a little bit of everything,” Davis is the key to the Ipswich attack, averaging more than 16 points and 11 rebounds per game.

“Julia is absolutely the focal point of our offense,” said Carter-Zegarowski. “Because she dominates on the boards so much, even if she doesn’t get her hands on the ball so much she gets it done. She’s great on defense too, always willing to do the dirty work.”

For Davis and O’Flynn, their goals revolve around making their family, which extends into the community, proud. They know they can do that with team success.