By Craig Forde, Globe Correspondent

The top-ranked Lancers (12-1-3) snapped a 1-1 tie after the first period with four unanswered goals as they took down second-ranked Hingham, 5-1, at Valley Forum II in Malden on Saturday night.

“They’re a very good team, and I think we’ll see them again in the Super 8,” said MC coach John McLean. “We had some chances early that we didn’t bury, but I thought it was a good hockey game.”

Freshman Ara Nazarian opened up the scoring mid-way through the first period when he one-timed a pass from Tyler Sifferlen to make it 1-0.

Three minutes later Hingham (13-3-1) would respond when Matt Brazel powered one home from the slot, snapping it past Connor Maloney to tie the game at one.

Hingham’s physical defense remained tight on the speedier Lancers, but eventually the skill of MC broke through when Ryan Fitzgerald potted one seven minutes into the second period, for what would turn out to be the game-winner.

“They did a good job clogging it up and it was pretty hard to score the first period and a half, but then we finally broke it in,” said Fitzgerald. “They’re a physical team and they tried to get us off our game, which is speed. We just kept at it, kept grinding.”

Malden Catholic continued to wear down the Hingham defense and Mike Iovanna’s power-play goal with five minutes left in the second put the high-scoring Lancers in the right state of mind.

“They packed it in, their goalie played good,” said Fitzgerald. “We were pressuring them a lot, so the goals were going to come.”

Fitzgerald (20 goals) and Nazarian (10 goals) both collected their second goals of the game in the final frame to ice things for the Lancers.

Hingham came into this game with a 12-0-1 mark since going 1-2 to start the season. This was their first loss since Dec. 21 against No. 3 St. Mary’s.

“We had a good effort, good intensity, but against a team like that, you give them one opening and they’re going to take it,” said Hingham coach Tony Messina. “They can score three goals in a shift, so 5-1, I guess we don’t like the score, but I felt like it was closer and we played tough.”

The Lancers were 12-0-2 coming in since their only loss of the season versus Delbarton School (N.J.) back on Dec. 17. Malden Catholic only had one penalty on the night and are clamping down on what was an earlier issue.

“The key word is discipline,” said McLean of his team’s effort to stay out of the box. “There is no reason to take any retialiatory penalties. You take the hit and make the play. We’re a pretty good hockey team, but we’re not good with four guys, we’re good with five.”

Malden Catholic has scored 32 goals over their last six games, notching five or more goals in five of the six games.

“We’re in a good spot right now,” said Fitzgerald. “We have a good shot to repeat if everyone focuses up. I like our chances this year.”

Craig Forde can be reached at cforde@globe.com

By Andrew MacDougall, Globe Correspondent

Cardinal Spellman senior Joey Glynn has verbally committed to play basketball at Bentley University this fall.

“I’m very excited this whole process is over,” said Glynn. “[This is] definitely very exciting to me.”

According to Spellman head coach Mike Perry, Bentley offered Glynn a full, four-year scholarship to continue his basketball career with the Falcons.

The 6-foot-5 forward is averaging more than 21 points per game this season for the Cardinals, who are currently 14-4 and third in the Catholic Central League with a 7-3 record.

Last year, Glynn averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading the Cardinals to a 20-5 record and the Division 3 South Sectional title.

Perry thinks that the style of game Glynn likes to play will complement the style of play implemented by Bentley head coach Jay Lawson and the Falcon offense.

“I think it’s a win-win situation for him and for Bentley,” said Perry, “especially considering the type of game they like to play. He’s perfect for them. He’s so unselfish, he’s a very good rebounder, and he can run the floor. At 6-foot-5, he can play numerous positions.

“It’s nice [to coach him] with his size and quickness, and he reacts so well that it's a bonus for us because it’s tough for small guard to guard him. I think for both it’s a win-win.”

Perry stated that Glynn is also excited about the business program that Bentley offers, saying it's "a perfect fit as far as he’s concerned.”

Bentley came out on top over Stonehill, Annapolis, Worcester Poly Tech, and Saint Anselm.

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

Peabody's Hayley Dowd was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player of the Year on Thurday.

As a junior, Dowd led the Tanners to a 22-0-2 record and the 2011 Division I state title. The Tanners' striker finished the season with 41 goals and 19 assists. She was also on her game when it mattered most, netting seven goals and three assists in six postseason appearances.

For her work, Dowd, who has verbally commited to play for Boston College in the Fall of 2013, was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association and the Globe's Division I Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Dowd, who is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award (announced in May), owns the Peabody girls' all-time scoring record with 121 goals and 43 assists through three seasons.

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

Super Bowl Sunday is a day plenty of New Englanders would like to forget. For friends and family of Mystic Valley Regional's Greg Statho, who became the first player in school history to reach the 1,000 point mark, Sunday was, well, pretty okay.

Statho, a Melrose native, entered Sunday's home game against Notre Dame (Lawrence) needing 10 points to reach the milestone. He finished with 12, hitting his goal with a fast break layup late in the fourth quarter of a 64-40 Eagle victory.

"We stopped the game and had a little ceremony where we gave Greg the ball," said Mystic Valley coach Tony Ferullo, whose team (15-3, 8-1) has already clinched the Commonwealth Athletic Conference (Small) title.

"The first thing [Statho] did was go over to his mother and father (who is blind, but was there at the game) and give them a hug. It was a nice moment," said Ferullo.

“Greg is really a success story," Ferullo continued. "He's come up through the ranks since the fifth grade and although he's not a big player, he's played big. In my nine years at Mystic Valley he's been one of the most productive players we've ever had. When you start naming the best players to attend the school, Greg's name will be right up there."

This week's installment of High School Weekly introduces you to Cali Loblundo, the goaltender for the Acton-Boxborough High girls' hockey team.

Hosted by Jon Meterparel and Kelly Emerson, the weekly video series by Element Productions features a profile each week of a high school athlete. Check out more about High School Weekly on Facebook.

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

Hebron, ME -- After breaking the Berwick Academy all-time scoring record just weeks ago, Harry Rafferty has hit another milestone, dropping a career-high 47 points against Hebron Academy (ME). His previous career-high was 36, a mark he has hit three times in his four-year career.

The 5-foot-7 co-captain hit six 3-pointers and was 15-for-16 from the charity stripe, while accounting for more than half of the Bulldogs offensive output in the 82-68 win.

Coach Rory Early described it as “just another day at the office” for the three-year Berwick MVP and reigning Eastern Independent League MVP.

“He’s an incredible scorer, he’s been asked to carry the load for the last three years,” Early said of his prized guard. “Great kid and tremendous talent.”

Early contends that if Rafferty were taller he would be a Division 1 scholarship athlete.

Rafferty became the Bulldogs all-time leading scorer in the second half of 60-32 win over Landmark on Jan., 11.

By Globe Staff

Mastersports announced its 2012 Annual Award recipients, a list that includes some of the most successful coaches in state football history. The awards recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the game of Football, the communities they have served, and to those players whom they have inspired:

- 8th Annual Paul Costello Distinguished Service Award: Tom Lamb

- 6th Annual High School Coach of the Year: Mike Boyages, Wakefield High School

- 6th Annual College Coach of the Year: E.J. Mills, Amherst College

- 5th Annual Jack Grinold SID/Media Award: Steve Krause of The Lynn Item

- 4th Annual Official of the Year: Edwin Shanahan, Umpire, Colonial, Ivy, Patriot League

- Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Bancroft, Pembroke High School

Lifetime Achievement Award: Joseph Tarby, Woburn Pop Warner

The Award Winners will be honored Sat., March 10, during the luncheon with the Legends Banquet following the annual Mastersports, Inc. Football Coaches Clinic at the Holiday Inn Select in Woburn.

"We are proud to honor these outstanding men who have had such an impact on the lives of many young men and their families” said Mastersports Founder John “Skip” Bandini.

Mastersports is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the game of football. The mission of Mastersports is two-fold. First, raise funds for educational scholarships. All funds after direct expenses raised from all our various operations are used to fund Memorial Scholarships for college, high school, and youth football players. These are awarded annually in June based on criteria set by the Mastersports Board of Directors. Secondly, provide quality instruction that allows football coaches at all levels to share skills, schemes & techniques with other coaches through our coaches clinic.

For More information about the Banquet, Clinic, and Mastersports please visit their website at www.mastersports.org, or contact Skip Bandini at skipbandini@hotmail.com.

By Colleen Casey, Globe Correspondent

Defense has been key for the Braintree girls' basketball team this season, and last night was no exception. The host Wamps plowed through Bay State Conference foe Brookline, 46-26, improving to 14-1.

“Our defensive intensity was key,” said coach Kristen McDonnell. “By the third and fourth quarter we were just able to wear them down.”

The Wamps stellar defense held the Warriors to only 8 points at the end of the half. Freshman Bridget Herlihy (8 points), a 6-foot-2-inch forward, led the attack with nine rebounds.

“Bridget got the game ball tonight. She had a great well-rounded game,” said McDonnell.

Freshman forward Ashley Russell fueled the Wamps on the other end of the court, scoring 11 points. Senior captain Paige Marshall chipped in 9 points and six assists.

The Wamps have been working hard the past week to bounce back from their only loss of the season to Wellesley, 48-35. They beat Natick by 27 and now Brookline by 20.

“Since our loss last week we’re focusing more on going at it little by little. Possession by possession,” said McDonnell. “I like how we’re playing right now. We’re getting back to just playing basketball. The kids aren’t over thinking about things they’re just going with it.”

By Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has named a new associate executive director, replacing William N. Gaine Jr., who will retire after 33 years on the job.

According to a press release, Richard L. Pearson, currently principal of Medway High School, has been named Associate Executive Director of the MIAA and the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administrators’ Association (MSSAA). He will assume his new position in June.

Gaine will retire on June 30, 2012.

“Richard has been an active member of our two associations for many years and is well informed on the mission, responsibilities and operations of both organizations. The fact that his peers elected him to serve as MSSAA President this year is testimony to the respect he has among the educational community as a leader,'' Richard F. Neal, Executive Director, said in a statement.

The rest of the MIAA release follows:

Mr. Pearson was named principal at Medway H.S. in August, 2004. Among his many accomplishments in that position was supervising the opening of a new school. He was assistant principal at Foxborough H.S. from June, 2000 to August, 2004.

A musician by education, he holds a Bachelor in Music Education degree from The Ohio State University. He began his teaching career as Band Director in Walpole and later in Medfield. He holds a Masters in Education degree from Bridgewater State College and is currently in the process of completing course work in the doctoral program at Northeastern University.

Mr. Gaine joined the Associations as Assistant Executive Director in October, 1979 and has had major responsibility in the areas of student/athlete health and safety initiatives over the years. He also had executive responsibility for all phases of management for most Association-sponsored sports with current oversight for ice hockey, football and baseball. He was promoted to his present position in 1994.

Mr. Gaine has been the architect and catalyst for the development and growth of the MIAA’s Student Services Program which includes Sportsmanship, Wellness, Leadership, Community Service and Coaches’ Education. The MIAA and Mr. Gaine have been recognized statewide and nationally for creating programming focused on student athletes that enrich their interscholastic experience through a curriculum of educational athletics.

The MIAA is an association of 376 member schools with responsibility for regulating and promoting educational athletics in public and private high schools throughout the State. Its Mission is to serve member schools and the maximum number of their students by providing leadership and support for the conduct of interscholastic athletics which will enrich the educational experiences of all participants.

The Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators’ Association represents the interests of 1,200 principals and assistant principals in high schools and middle schools throughout the Commonwealth.

By Ayoub Kourikchi, Globe Correspondent

It was a memorable night for senior captains Matt Hughes and James Gordon, as the second-ranked Hingham boys’ hockey team celebrated its senior night by squeezing out a 4-3 victory over No.14 Westford Academy yesterday.

The Harbormen (13-2-1) came out firing for their last home game of the season, outshooting the Grey Ghosts, 38-27.

“It was an important game for the seniors’ careers and we have been performing well at home so it was important to continue that,” said fourth year coach Tony Messina. From the beginning, I think we came out strong and we had good shot selection.”

The Harbormen jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period as Hughes scored the initial goal on a wrap-around effort.

Sophomore defensemen John Carlson battered through a screen and wristed one to the back of the net to extend their lead.

The Grey Ghosts (10-3-2) clawed their way back, taking a 3-2 lead in the third after a power-play goal with four minutes left.

“They carried the play in the second period and into the third. They came out real strong. They outshot us,'' said Messina. “[Westford] moves through its neutral zone with speed and they are good at moving the puck out of the zone quickly with long passes.”

With their backs to the wall, the Harbormen responded in resounding fashion, stuffing in two quick goals. Gordon and sophomore center Matt Brazel each scored on rebounds.

The Harbormen outshot the Grey Ghosts, 19-6, in the third period.

“Our defense shut them down pretty good,” said Messina. “We just tried to take away that long pass. They are a good skating team, and they get a lot of speed in the neutral zone. Our defense stood up to them and did not give them too much space.”

The Harbormen face against No. 1 Malden Catholic Saturday at 5:40.

By Jason Mastrodonato, Globe Correspondent

Concord-Carlisle junior All-American soccer player Andrea O’Brien has committed to play for Boston College in 2013.

Back-to-back winner of the Dual County League MVP award and a Globe All-Scholastic, O’Brien netted 37 goals and added 10 assists for the Patriots last fall. She said her decision came down to three schools – Boston College, Georgetown and The University of Virginia – but she decided to stay local.

“When you live so close to a school sometimes you don’t really see it much,” O’Brien said. “But going on my overnight visit, I realized I loved the school. I was trying to find a great academic school but also one where there was a really strong soccer program.”

C-C head coach Nancy Slocum, who guided the Patriots to a 14-4 record last fall before getting knocked out by Peabody (the eventual state champion) in the Division 1 North quarterfinals, said Boston College seems like a good fit for the high-scoring forward.

“I hope she has as much success there as she’s had here,” Slocum said. “I think now she’ll be freed up to relax a little bit more and just play soccer to enjoy it and develop.”

But O’Brien, who believes she’ll stay in an attacking role while at B.C., said there is still more work to do while at Concord-Carlisle.

“I’ll have the same mentality as last year,” said O'Brien, who will join Peabody standout Hayley Dowd at B.C. “I want to graduate knowing we won a state tile at the high school. And I think it’s actually a realistic goal.”

O’Brien’s older brother Mikey, a leader on the C-C boys' team with 21 goals during his senior season last fall, will be attending The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania – considered among the top business programs in the country. He said he's unsure if he'll play soccer at the Ivy League school, which produced two 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft picks this year.

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

The Knights (13-2) clinched the Catholic Conference title and the top spot in the new Top 20 this week, with a, 74-57, win over BC High on Friday night, in a game that will be remembered as much for the fight that occurred in the third quarter, as the final.

Central Catholic (13-1) fell out of the top for the first time in five weeks, as No. 15 Lowell handed the Raiders their first home loss in five years.

The loss was Central Catholic's first MVC mishap in its last 53 conference games. Lowell was actually the last conference team to take them down, back in 2008.

Brockton (11-1) handed Newton North its first loss of the season on Sunday and vaulted up to No. 4 as a result. The Tigers (14-1) dropped to No. 5

Stoughton's impressive, 81-60, win over Franklin on Thursday night earned it the No. 3 spot in this weeks rankings. Stoughton was led by Marcus Middleton, who scored 26 points and earned Player of the Week honors for his effort.

At 15-0, No. 16 Wareham is the lone remaining unbeaten.

Franklin, Weymouth, Boston Latin, Lynn English, and Danvers were all tough to leave off this week.

Click here to see the full boys' Top 20.

By Hannah Becker, Globe Correspondent

For the second week in a row a Top 5 team has seen their undefeated season come to an end as Braintree lost to Wellesley, falling to 13-1 on the season and to the fifth spot on this week's poll.

With the upset and a win over Newton North, Wellesley moved up two spots to No. 13.

Archbishop Williams had a rough week, dropping four spots to No. 12 after back-to-back losses on Friday and Saturday. Masconomet also feel this week. Despite picking up two wins, they lost to Pentucket, forcing them down to the No. 18 spot.

Scituate continues to climb the standings as their perfect season remains intact (13-0) after they picked up three wins during a busy week.

Slight changes in the bottom 10 round out this week's Top 20 as the 12-20 teams all swept the week with wins.

By Craig Forde, Globe Correspondent

Once again there is little movement across the Top 20, as Malden Catholic (10-1-2) remains atop the latest edition of the boys hockey poll, having monopolized the No. 1 slot since preseason.

No. 5 St. John's Prep (10-5) and No. 3 St. Mary's (14-1-2) swap slots, while No. 8 Woburn (10-3-2) and No. 9 Marshfield (13-2-1) leapfrog Springfield Cathedral (7-4-4) to round out the Top 10.

Catholic Memorial (6-6-1) slides up one spot to No. 11 after a win and a tie. Check out this week's boys' hockey notebook to see what the Knights are up against coming down the stretch.

Following Saturday losses, both Braintree and Chelmsford are knocked out of the Top 20 after making their debuts only one week ago.

Franklin (13-1-1) returns to the list as our 18th ranked team, having outscored their opponents 43-1 in the five games since their only loss of the season back on January 16th.

No. 19 Norwood (12-2-4), also featured in this week's notebook, is our other newcomer after they took down Needham Wednesday in a big Bay State Conference game, then followed that up with a 4-0 win over Dedham Saturday to remain unbeaten (9-0-4) in league play.

By Liz Torres, Globe Correspondent

With Woburn having been dealt a stunning 3-2 loss to Wakefield, the now-No. 4 Tanners vacated the top spot to the undefeated defending Division 2 champion Duxbury. The Dragons are the only perfect team in the state, with a 13-game run with no losses or ties and at the rate they are going, it doesn't look like there is much stop them.

Third-ranked Arlington Catholic (15-1-1) saw the same luck with its undefeated run blemished after No. 5 St. Mary's handed the Cougars a 5-2 loss behind Alison Butler and Kaleigh Finigan. The loss bumped unbeaten Acton-Boxboro to No. 2 after beating No. 12 Braintree.

Barnstable dropped to No. 11 after losing to Duxbury, 4-0, and No. 14 Winthrop, 4-1 in the same week. No. 19 Austin Prep put a dent in Hingham, 4-3, to drop the once top-ranked Harborwomen to No. 9.

By Brock Parker, Globe Correspondent

The varsity hockey team at Cambridge Rindge and Latin has been told it must forfeit all but one of its five victories this season because an ineligible student was allowed to play.

The student, whose name has not been released, needed a waiver of what is referred to as the “five-year rule” in which a student’s eligibility to play high school sports expires four years after he or she graduates from the 8th grade, according to MIAA spokesman Paul Wetzel.

But Maryann Cappello, the athletic director for Cambridge Public Schools, said she did not file the waiver application by the Dec. 15 deadline because she became seriously ill on Dec. 13 and was then hospitalized for six days.

By the time Cappello filed the waiver application in January, the student had played in four of the team’s five victories and the MIAA ruled the school had to forfeit those games. The school received word Friday that an appeal of the decision had been denied.

“It’s not their fault,” Cappello said of the team, which has a 5-10 record. “They went out there and they played. It’s on administration, it’s on me. It should have been in on the 15th. I was sick and I wasn’t able to do it.”

Peter Cohen, whose son Byron Cohen is a captain of the hockey team, said forfeiting the games ruins any chance the team has of making the state playoffs this year, and it could also affect individual achievements, such as being one of the top goal scorers in the league.

Cohen wrote a letter to Rindge and Latin School Interim Principal Damon Smith Tuesday asking that the school petition the MIAA on behalf of the hockey team so the games wouldn’t have to be forfeited.

“We feel strongly that the students should not be penalized due to an error that was soley the responsibility of [Cambridge Rindge and Latin School] administration,” Cohen wrote.

Smith did not return a respond to a request for comment Friday, but Cappello said the school did appeal the ruling this week, and was informed this morning that the decision was final.

Wetzel said the MIAA allowed Rindge and Latin to file a late application for the student’s waiver because of Cappello’s illness. But Wetzel said the MIAA did not find there was sufficient reason to grant the request for the fifth-year waiver, and the hockey team must still forfeit any victories in which the ineligible student played.

“It’s over,” Wetzel said of the chances the decision could be overturned.

Cappello said she had become seriously ill in December and had spent time in intensive care before she returned to work on a part-time basis in early January. She said she was trying to catch up with a backlog of work when she returned, and did not remember to file the waiver until she got a call from a guidance counselor.

By then, Cappello said the student’s second quarter grades had been issued and he was no longer academically eligible to be on the team, either.

Prior to his second quarter grades being issued, the student did have the grades to play, Cappello said. But without the waiver for the five-year rule, the student still wasn’t eligible to play, she said.

The team’s first game was Dec. 17, and Cappello said the ineligible student played in a total of 10 games.

Wetzel said the MIAA typically receives about 100 applications per year for waivers of the five-year rule. He said many of the waivers are approved, but he said he would not call the waivers “routine.”

He said Cambridge must now send notice of the forfeits to the teams it beat while fielding the ineligible player.

Cappello said that despite its 5-10 record, the hockey team had still been hoping that it could rally and make the playoffs.

“I feel really, really bad about the situation,” she said.

-brock.globe@gmail.com

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

Everett football fans will have to wait another year to see their golden-armed native son, Jonathan DiBiaso, play at the college level.

The record-shattering quarterback made a verbal commitment to Dartmouth College during a luncheon at Everett High School, but also announced his plan to attend a year of post-grad school at Philips Exeter in New Hampshire first.

"Going into an Ivy League school I know the academics will be very tough," DiBiaso explained. "Going to a prep school like Exeter, which is known for their academics, I think it will prepare me very well...it's just another year of playing football, which I like."

Jonathan had narrowed his choices for college to Harvard and Dartmouth, and according to his dad -- Everett coach John DiBiaso -- the highly anticipated decision came down to minutes prior to the scheduled announcement, specifically the car ride to the ceremony.

"It was tough," the elder DiBiaso said. "He was talking to coaches last night, he was talking to different schools last night...it was an ordeal and a half."

DiBiaso owns the state record for career touchdown passes (103) and touchdown passes in a season (44). He will continue playing quarterback at Dartmouth, where he hopes to make an early impact on the Big Green.

“[...] I have plans to work my hardest and be the best that I possibly can," he said. "So that I can play early, win early, and hopefully just be successful as a quarterback for them.”

DiBiaso, the 2011-12 Gatorade Massachusetts Football Player of the Year, ended his high school career by leading the Crimson Tide to consecutive Super Bowl wins. They rattled off 24 straight victories with DiBiaso under center since losing the Division 1 Super Bowl to Xaverian on December 5, 2009.

In 12 games last season DiBiaso threw for 2,731 yards and 44 touchdowns—giving him 87 in the last two years—while completing 59 percent of his passes (162-of-273).

What are the chances we see another 44-touchdown performance in the near future?

"Anything's possible," DiBiaso said with a grin. "My goal is always just to win, so I plan on winning Ivy League championships there, and I know they feel the same way...I'm really excited at that opportunity."

By Ryan MacInnis, Globe Correspondent

On Saturday, February 11th, the Wilmington boys’ hockey team will host Melrose at Ristuccia Memorial Arena at 4pm.

The hockey team will show its support for The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation by wearing pink game jerseys. “We have players on both varsity and JV teams impacted by breast cancer (moms)” said coach Steve Scanlon. “The Hockey has been a great escape and source of support for all of them.”

Wilmington, which started the season 8-3-3, has been rolling as of late led by senior captain Dalton Rolli (15 points).

“We’ve been playing great hockey” said Scanlon. “It will be a great night since our boys have a little something more to play for.”

Donations for “Pink in the Rink” can be made until the end of the game.

By Craig Forde, Globe Correspondent

In a crossover matchup of Bay State League division leaders, the upstart Norwood (11-2-4, 8-0-4) boys' hockey team kept its unbeaten league mark intact and put a dent in eighth-ranked Needham's Super 8 resume, with a 4-3 win in Wellesley Wednesday night.

The Mustangs' relentless forecheck from the jump allowed them to frustrate the Rockets into numerous turnovers in the neutral zone.

That early pressure led to early goals as Peter Kelly and Mike Murray scored 35 seconds apart, giving Norwood a 2-0 lead before four minutes had run off the clock.

“To get off on a quick foot like that was good,” said Norwood coach Bill Clifford. “I told our kids to go to the net, get shots on the net, and we’ve been doing that the last few games and it’s paying off for us.”

The Rockets (12-3, 9-2) came out with more purpose in the second period, tightening the reins on defense and creating more plays in the offensive zone.

Chris Lambert put the Rockets on the board at the 7:53 mark, knocking home a bouncing puck on the left doorstep to make it 2-1.

Despite Needham’s continued efforts, the Mustangs were determined to head to the locker room with another two-goal lead when they scored with 1:18 left in the period on a beautiful feed by Tyler Gover (three assists) from behind the net to captain Brendan Cathcart out front, who snapped the puck glove side for a 3-1 lead.

As the period was winding down, Rockets captain Lucas Davis worked the play near the left side of the crease, and with Jordan Davis (21 saves) down to cover his shot, Lucas Davis slid the puck to his right finding James Fisher, who buried it with 12 seconds left in the period.

Once again Norwood got the jump on the Rockets to start the final period and just 2:23 into the frame, Mark Powers worked the puck behind the net, faked to his right, and wrapped the puck in on his left side, putting the Mustangs ahead, 4-2, deflating Needham.

With an extra attacker on the ice, Needham cocaptain Timmy Parlato scored with just 12.6 seconds remaining in the game.

“We did a good job along the boards, our forecheck was good, defense and zone coverage was good,” said Clifford. “They’ve been working hard all year and it’s starting to pay off for them.”

Shawn Anderson has been named the new boys' lacrosse coach at St. Mary's.

The Tewksbury native led Becker College to its first winning-season in 2008 and was nominated for Conference Coach of the Year. After assisting at Belmont Hill last season, he takes his first head coaching job for lacrosse at the high school level.

Anderson has only been coaching lacrosse for five years, but his experience as a football coach spans three decades--including stints at Boston University, Curry, Merrimack, West Virginia Tech, and Belmont Hill.

He takes over a Spartans program that finished 0-11 last season.

This week's High School Weekly video profile focuses on Emma Roberson of Arlington Catholic High. It was created by Element Productions and is hosted by Jon Meterparel and Kelly Emerson.

High School Sports Weekly profiles the student-athletes from around the region who make high school athletics so compelling. Check out High School Weekly on Facebook.

By Craig Forde, Globe Correspondent

With the Catholic Conference title already secured, top-ranked Malden Catholic looked to make a statement against St. John’s Prep, and used a four-goal second period to skate off with a 5-2 victory yesterday at Valley Forum II in Malden.

‘‘It was wonderful winning the Catholic Conference this early,’’ said Malden Catholic coach John McLean. ‘‘There’s not going to be any letdown. We only play one game at a time and just try to get two points each game.’’

The Lancers (9-1-2), who went 6-0-1 in January against Catholic Conference opponents, controlled every aspect of the game from the drop of the puck, but the third-ranked Eagles got on the board first on a Brian Pinho one-timer from Sam Kurker with 2:16 remaining in the first period.

The Lancers continued to mount pressure, which paid off on the power play when Pat Wrenn backhanded home a loose puck in front of the net to even things up 2:13 into the second period.

One minute after breaking David Letarte’s eight-period shutout streak, captain Brendan Collier put Malden Catholic up for good when he wristed home a shot from the slot.

Collier netted his second goal two minutes later, tipping home a blast that Brendan White unleashed from the left point, putting the Lancers up, 3-1.

‘‘It was a big game and we knew we had to come in flying,’’ said Collier. ‘‘We beat them once and it’s tough to beat anyone twice, so we knew it’d be a struggle.’’

Malden Catholic gave the Prep ample opportunities, racking up eight penalties, but the Eagles only capitalized on one of those chances when Pinho scored his second of the game after Kurker pinged one off the crossbar, making it 3-2 with 3:45 left in the second period.

‘‘Our boys are competing so hard,’’ said MC assistant coach Phil Antonelli. ‘‘Any little action is going to get called. No one’s going to give us anything.’’

The Lancers found themselves shorthanded once again as the second period wound down, but the Eagles could not pin the puck in their zone, sending Lancers freshman Ara Nazarian up on the left side, where he made a pinpoint stop and spin move before backhanding it over to Tyler Sifferlen for the fourth goal of the period.

Ryan Fitzgerald capped the scoring on a shorthanded empty-netter with a minute to play in the game.

By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent

The Minuteman boys' basketball team won a thriller Tuesday night in Lexington, defeating Greater Lowell, 69-64, in an overtime game that featured an improbable comeback and a half-court buzzer-beater.

Senior guard Troy Newton finished with a game-high 23 points for the Mustangs (7-8), 17 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Trailing by 12 points with 5:30 remaining, the Mustangs went on an 8-0 run to cut the Greater Lowell lead to 4.

"The key to our comeback was our defensive pressure," said second year Minuteman coach John Fusco. "We were making them take tough shots, and were solid on the boards, only allowing them one chance a possession."

With under a minute remaining Dylan Caples picked a nice spot for his only 5 points of the game, nailing a game-tying layup and a go-ahead three pointer with only seconds on the clock.

Dominick Dar responded in the final seconds of regulation for the Gryphons (8-7), connecting on a fall-a-way half-court three at the buzzer to send the game into over time at 60 apiece.

"That shot was incredible," said Fusco. "Nothing but net."

Dar led Greater Lowell with 21 points on the night.

"On the first possession of overtime one of our best players (Brendan Kingston, who finished with 14 points) fouled out and I remember thinking that Greater Lowell had all the momentum," said Fusco. "But my guys stepped up."

The Mustangs seized back the momentum in overtime, holding the Gryphons to just 4 points in the extra frame, to pick up their fourth win in the last five games.

"This was just a great basketball game," said Fusco. "My guys refused to lose this one. They just wanted this game and it showed in the way they played."

By Ayoub Kourikchi, Globe Correspondent

The St. Mary’s boys’ basketball team erupted for 60 second-half points, erasing a 17-point halftime deficit (35-18) to sink host Arlington Catholic, 78-63, and take over first place in the Catholic Central Large Monday night.

St. Mary’s (13-3, 7-1) was led by senior captain Nick Gagliolo, who netted 20 of his game-high 29 points in the second half. The talented 6-foot-1 guard also scored his 1,000th career point, in dramatic fashion, drilling a third-quarter buzzer beater on a fallaway jumper in the lane to even the game at 46-all.

“Nick is a three-year starter and it’s a luxury as a coach to have a player like this at this level. He is a leader and has all of the intangibles that make him a special player,” said St. Mary’s coach Kevin Moran. “After he scored his 1,000th point he turned around and said, "Let's take of business and see if we can finish.”

The Spartans matched Gagliolo’s intensity throughout the second half and exploded with 28 third-quarter points after they struggled in the first 16 minutes.

“The match was clearly a game of two halves," said Moran. "We took too many 3-pointers and we didn’t get any offensive rebounds and we didn’t execute offensively in the first half.

“I expected them to go out in the second half with more intensity and they took it upon themselves and convinced each other to start compete at a high level.”

The Spartan’s carried their momentum into the fourth quarter where they outscored the Cougars (10-3, 6-2), 32-17.

“We got the ball moving and a lot of our points came off transition,” said Moran. “Our defensive pressure got better. We stayed in man-to-man defense, and we were more aggressive and we rotated and defended them much better and that created a lot of our offense and it helped us push the ball up and get better looks.”

Senior captain and guard Devin Thomas finished with 15 points and sophomore point guard Randolph Thurman collected 9 points, 9 assists, and 7 steals.

“The kids knocked down the shots and they ran the show tonight and they picked up the momentum,” said Moran.

“I have been coaching at St. Mary’s for eight years and [the team has] never scored 60 in a half and all things considering it’s probably one of the best games we have played in a long time.”

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

Urban Meyer is batting 1.000 in Massachusetts this offseason, securing the talents of the two top recruits in the state.

According to Catholic Memorial athletic director/football coach Alex Campea, Armani Reeves will sign a National Letter of Intent to Ohio State at a press conference at the school on Wednesday.

Reeves--a running back/defensive back for the Knights--joins good friend and teammate Cam Williams, who announced 10 days ago his intention to sign with the Buckeyes.