BC High boys’ hockey weathers storm vs. St. John’s Prep

The top-ranked BC High hockey team just keeps chugging along. The Eagles’ well-oiled machine bent but did not break on Wednesday night, allowing the opening goal before storming back and scoring the next two to take down No. 8 St. John’s Prep, 2-1, in a Catholic Conference matchup at UMass-Boston’s Clark Center.

“It’s a big two points in our league,” said BC High coach John Flaherty. “Every Catholic Conference game is going to be a dog fight, and that’s what you saw here today.”

Prep (3-3-2) opened up the scoring four minutes in, as Ryan Hart’s shot off a two-on-one trickled past BC netminder Chase Congdon for the 1-0 lead.

It took BC High (5-1-1) just 90 seconds to respond, as senior captain Thomas Kramer leveled the game off assists from his two younger brothers, Joseph and Peter. Aidan Carey gave BC the lead with 2:32 left in the period after CJ Martin forced a turnover along the boards off of heavy forecheck pressure and fed Carey right in the slot for a one-timer past Prep goalie Jake Essensa.

“We want to force them to make mistakes and CJ just pounced on it and made a great read,” said Flaherty. “He made a really nice pass and Aidan didn’t waste any time. It was off his stock and in the back of the net. Their goalie has been playing really well . . . so we knew pucks were going to have to get to him quicker than he was expecting.”

BC High weathered the storm the rest of the way, preventing Prep from potting a tying goal. Sophomore Zach McKenelley had the best chance at an equalizer when he found himself in all alone with the goalie with 1:06 remaining in the third period, but Congdon stonewalled him to preserve the win.

“Chase didn’t have to make many saves, but the ones he did were big,” said Flaherty. “Chase answered the Bell each one of those times. He bailed us out when we broke down.”

Melrose 2, Chelmsford 2 — Christian Gastonguay scored both goals for the Lions (4-1-3).

Needham 5, Weymouth 3 — Senior Nick Mahoney scored a hat trick for the Rockets (8-1).

Wellesley 4, Brookline 1 — Senior Ben Lussier scored his first career goal to boost the Raiders (4-3-1).

Girls’ hockey

Braintree 4, Walpole 1 — Special teams set the tone for 17th-ranked Wamps (6-2), who killed off four penalties and scored on two power-play chances in the Bay State Conference win over the No. 13 Rebels (6-2) in Randolph.

‘‘This is the first game really all year that we played three solid periods,’’ said Braintree coach Kevin Burchill. ‘‘The girls rose to the occasion, and I’m thrilled.’’

After a scoreless first period, junior Allie DeCoste opened the scoring for Braintree off a deflection. Junior Abby Holland triggered both power-play markers for the Wamps, and classmate Stella Shea added a third period tally.

Defensively, Braintree clogged up the shooting lanes, holding the Rebels to just 19 shots.

Pembroke 2, Hingham 2 — Senior captain Carly Birolini scored two goals in the third period for Pembroke to make sure the No. 20 Titans (8-0-2) remained unbeaten on the season. Birolini scored the tying goal with 18.1 seconds left in the game.

“We were hanging in there, we were one bounce away,” said Birolini. “We just kept pushing and we got the bounce we needed.”

Senior Gianna Merian and sophomore Coco Hernberg scored for Hingham (4-3-2). Pembroke freshman goalie Kaleigh Murphy made 28 saves.

Methuen/Tewksbury 8, Lincoln-Sudbury 2 — Senior Julia Masotta (4 goals, 1 assists) opened the scoring for the second-ranked Red Rangers (7-2), who capped the first period with four unanswered goals to open up at 5-1 cushion.

‘‘We need other people to put the puck in the net, and they can,’’ said Methuen/Tewksbury coach Sarah Oteri. ‘‘It’s really good to see people getting in the goal scoring areas and taking advantage of that.’’

Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Provvisionato made 38 saves for the visitors.

Canton 9, Stoughton 0 — Senior Maggie Malloy notched her 50th career goal for the Bulldogs (5-2-2).

Nobles 5, Middlesex 0 — Freshmen forwards Julia Simon (2 goals) and Emmy O’Leary (1 goal, 2 assists) paced the Bulldogs.

Boys’ basketball

Cristo Rey 70, Matignon 32 — Freshman Ervic Martinez notched 22 points,including six 3-pointers, to boost Cristo Rey (4-1).

Fenway 69, West Roxbury 57 — Senior Melvin Cuevas led the way for the Panthers (5-1) with 33 points, with fellow senior Jhonny Barnes adding 12 of his own.

Worcester Academy 94, Proctor 91 — Senior guard Dylan Lien’s five second-half 3-pointers propelled the Hilltoppers to a late victory.

Girls’ basketball

Blue Hills 58, Upper Cape 29 — Randolph residents Jamillia Ross (20 points) and Neissa Louis (9 points) paced the host Warriors.

North Attleborough 69, Attleboro 57 — Sophomore Amanda Kaiser contributed 11 points for the Red Rocketeers (3-6).

Winsor 84, Bancroft 18 — Junior Michaela Stanfield led the Wildcats (4-3) with 25 points.

Boys’ squash

Groton 4, Brooks 3 — Senior Aaron Jin won the pivotal seventh match, 12-10, for the Zebras (2-1).

Boys’ swimming

Algonquin 103, Advanced Math and Science 67 — Senior co-captain Ray Cerro was a double winner, placing first in the 50m free and the 100m fly for the Tomahawks while the Eagles’ Ben Williams placed first in the 200m individual medley and the 100m medley.

Girls’ swimming

Algonquin 101, Advanced Math and Science 64 — Senior co-captain Kate Beland was a double winner, placing first in the 200m freestyle and the 500m freestyle for the Tomahawks, joining junior Alexi Wong who placed first in both the 200m individual medley and the 100m free. Junior diver Lizzie Meschisen placed first in 1m diving for Algonquin as well.