Manchester Essex (14-5) had three players score in double-figures in their 65-51 win over Georgetown.
"We played great as a team," Hornets head coach Duane Sigsbury said. "Which is what we need, we are really young and all of our young guys have improved over the season."
Sophomore point guard Sean Nally led the way for the Hornets with 16 points, junior forward Joe Mussachia added 15 and senior center Noah Lauredant had 13.
The win sets up a showdown Thursday night with the Cape Ann League Small title potentially on the line against Rockport (6:30 p.m., Manchester Essex High School). If Hamilton-Wenham falls to powerhouse North Andover on Tuesday, the winner will share the Cape Ann League Small title with the Generals. Rockport won the last meeting 83-54 in the second game of the season for both teams.
saugus 70 Gloucester 66
The Fishermen (7-10) failed to hold on to a 10-point fourth quarter lead and fell to the Sachems for the second time this season.
"We played a great 28 minutes," Fishermen head coach Bill Cahill said. "But the last four were questionable."
Jordan Shairs led the way for Gloucester with a career-high 18 points, Caulin Rogers added 17 and Adam Philpott had 16.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
gloucester 58 saugus 41
The Fishermen (9-6) now need just one more win to qualify for the state tournament. Olivia Lufkin powered the Gloucester offense with 14 points, all of them in the third quarter. Audrey Knowlton chipped in 12 and Heather Cain had nine.
Gloucester also got a big boost from senior Sam Saputo (6 points) who was playing in her first game since December after being sidelined by an ankle injury.
"The team was really happy to have her back," head coach Jon Flanagan said. "She brings senior leadership and she's really dedicated. She came to practice every day while injured."
BOYS HOCKEY
shawsheen 4 rockport 1
The Vikings (8-7) played well on Thursday night as the game was a lot closer than the score indicated according to head coach Derek Papalegis. The Vikings, however, still didn't have enough to overtake the Commonwealth Conference front-runners.
Connor Douglass gave the Vikings a 1-0 first period lead when he scored on an assist from Brendan Surette and Dan Linquist, but Shawsheen scored the next four. The Vikings were also dealt a big blow when Douglass injured his collarbone and will be lost for the season.
Rockport can clinch a tournament berth with a win today against Minuteman (2 p.m., Dorothy Talbot Rink).
