Not only was it Friday, but it came with free basketball. St. Mary’s boys basketball team hit the road to play Bishop Stang, returning with a 54-49 overtime win and 3-1 record before the holidays.

“We know every time we go on the road in the CCL (Catholic Central), we’re going to be in dog fights,” said St. Mary’s coach Dave Brown. “This was a great win tonight. Hopefully, we keep moving in the right direction.”

Jake Fortier, an 8th grader, scored 15 points with five big ones coming in overtime. Donel Mutombo registered 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“[It was] a nice breakout game for him,” Brown said of Mutombo.

Rowan Merryman added eight points for St. Mary’s, which takes on Lynn English Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Boverini Tournament.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bishop Fenwick 53
Bishop Feehan 45

In another overtime battle, Bishop Fenwick’s girls team squeaked past the Shamrocks. Sophomore Caitlin Boyle tied the game (41-41) with a buzzer-beating basket after rebounding her own miss.

The Crusaders (3-1) were led by senior captain Cecilia Kay (22 points, 10 rebounds), sophomore Celia Neilson (6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals), and senior Isabella Lopez-Marin (7 points, 4 steals).

St. Mary’s 84
Bishop Stang 17

St. Mary’s came out hot and early, never looking back en route to a dominant performance against Stang. AJ Hyacinthe (14 points), Reese Matela (14), Charleigh Green (12), and Juliana Conte (9) led the charge for the 6-0 Spartans.

Swampscott 35
Barnstable 25

Senior Jesse Ford led the Big Blue with 15 points, and Swampscott scored a double-digit win against Barnstable at home. Freshman Olivia Quagrello finished with 11 points and three assists.

Saugus 52
Ipswich 20

Thanks to strong ball-movement and defensive effort, the Sachems took care of business against Ipswich. Saugus hosts Wakefield at noon on Wednesday.