BRAINTREE 54, LOWELL 46 (OT): Lowell and Braintree had each experienced overtime triumphs in this year's postseason leading up to their matchup in last night's Division 1 girls basketball state semifinal.

Braintree kept the Red Raiders to just one point in the extra four-minute session and Samantha White scored five of her 13 points in overtime as the Wamps prevailed, 54-46, to clinch their first trip to the state final since 1997.

"Just like a lot of coaches, it doesn't sink in until you get home," said Braintree coach Nick Krot, who was an assistant on the Braintree team that lost to Minnechaug nine years ago. "Everything is just a blur."

OLIVER AMES 50, MELROSE 47: Brittany Engle scored 23 points as Oliver Ames handed Melrose its first loss of the season, 50-47, in a Division 2 state semifinal last night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

"We knew we had to come out here and play our game," Engle said. "We couldn't be scared of the situation. You want your last game to be your best game, so we went out and left everything on the floor."

CARDINAL SPELLMAN 56, SWAMPSCOTT 53: Cardinal Spellman coach Pat Lamb put the fate of his team on freshman Reilly Poirier's shoulders in the Division 3 state semifinals at the TD Banknorth Garden.

With time winding down in the second overtime, Lamb called a pick-and-roll that resulted in point guard Cori O'Kane passing to Poirier in the paint. The 5-foot-9 starting forward then sank what proved to be the clinching basket with 10 seconds left in a 56-53 triumph over Swampscott.

Poirier added two free throws with 1.4 seconds for the Cardinals (21-6), who meet the Lee-Quaboag winner in the state final Saturday in Worcester.

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