In order to succeed in the big moments, you need players who can step up in March, and that’s exactly what the Newton North boys’ basketball team got Monday night as it defeated BC High, 61-55, in a Division 1 South semifinal at Newton South.

Seniors Michael Davis and Nate Hollenberg had been in this enviroment before, and it was evident they weren’t going to let anything stop them.

Davis finished with a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Hollenberg chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.

Newton North (22-3) jumped out to a quick lead with hot outside shooting and great ball movement, and looked to be coasting, taking a 37-25 lead into halftime.

At some point, though, you knew BC High was going to make a run.

It came in the form of 8-0 burst to close out the third quarter, which trimmed the deficit to 4.

“In this environment, it is hard playing with the lead,’’ Tigers coach Paul Connolly said. “They are going to fight, and they are going to come back.’’

BC High closed to within 2 before Davis stepped up once again. He was fouled on a layup and converted the free throw to increase the lead to 5.

But it wasn’t just the seniors who contributed for Newton North.

Freshman Ezra Pemstein found himself wide open under the basket on a fast break, and his layup pushed the lead to 9 with just under four minutes to play.

As BC High (15-8) continued to try to claw its way back, sophomore Noah Neville converted his only field goal of the game, a 3-pointer with two minutes to go that put the Tigers up 9 and all but punched their ticket to the sectional final.

“What can you say about the moment in March when seniors step up, juniors step up, sophomores step up, and a freshman steps up?’’ Connolly said. “The three that Noah Neville hit was as big as it gets in an environment like this.’’

Sophomore Ethan Wright added 10 points for Newton North.

Senior Jack Loughnane led BC High with 19 points.

Newton North will play either Mansfield or defending Division 1 state champion Catholic Memorial in the Division 1 South final on Friday at Newton South at 7 p.m.

Division 2 North

Salem 83, Wakefield 79 — Alex Sanchez had 39 points to lead the Witches to the sectional semifinals.

Division 3 North

Saugus 61, Stoneham 42 — Kyle Autilio scored 19 points as the Sachems reached the sectional semifinals.

Division 4 North

St. Mary’s 78, Lowell Catholic 56 — Jonathan Mola (16 points) led the Spartans, who had five players score in double figures.

Pope John 50, Hamilton-Wenham 38 — Travon Ford (17 points) and Thaddeus Allen (15) led the way as the Vikings knocked off the defending Division 4 state champions.

Division 3 Central

Oxford 49, Littleton 34 — Shaun McCarthy (17 points), Jared Buckley (15) and Jared Schutrick (11) helped the host top-seeded Pirates (20-3) rally to beat the No. 5 Tigers (16-7) in a Central Mass. Division 3 semifinal at Clark University. Oxford will play No. 3 Bartlett in the championship at Clark University at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. Nick Murray led Littleton with 8 points.

Bartlett 69, Whitinsville Christian 60 — Kyle Anderson scored 18 points and Tyler Davern and Anthony Grzembski both put up 15 points as the Indians (19-3) topped the Crusaders (13-10) in a Central Mass. Division 3 semifinal. Barlett will face Oxford on Thursday at 7:45 p.m at Clark. Chris Tulley led Whitinsville Christian with 16 points.

Division 4 Central

Sutton 42, Hopedale 39 — Tommy Mooney led all scorers with 17 points and Nick Maselek chipped in 13 to help the visiting No. 3 Sammies (22-3) hold off the No. 2 Blue Raiders (18-5) in a Central Mass. Division 4 semifinal at WPI. Sutton advances to play top-seeded Maynard at Fitchburg State at 4:15 p.m. Saturday. Brian Espanet led Hopedale with 16 points.

Maynard 58, Worcester Tech 45 — Corey Olivier netted 25 points and Chris Bastien chipped in 10 to lead the Tigers (21-3) past the Eagles (18-7) in a Central Mass. Division 4 semifinal. Maynard play Sutton at Fitchburg State at 4:15 p.m. Saturday. Ian Mwalago notched 13 points for Worcester Tech.

Division 4 West

Quaboag 57, Granby 53 — Dylan Perry netted 16 points and Brady Antonopoulos added 14 to help the visiting No. 3 Cougars (10-11) edge the No. 2 Bears (13-9) in a Western Mass. Division 4 semifinal at UMass-Amherst. Quaboag will face the winner of Friday’s game between Hopkins-Lenox in the championship at UMass-Amherst at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Girls’ basketball

Division 1 South

Braintree 47, Wellesley 35 — Brianna Herlihy and Keelah Dixon had 13 points apiece to help the Wamps advance.

Bishop Feehan 66, Mansfield 45 — Lauren Manis totaled 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Shamrocks advanced to the sectional final for the second straight year.

Division 4 South

Cathedral 45, West Bridgewater 38 — The Panthers handed West Bridgewater its first loss en route to making their second straight sectional final appearance.

Division 1 West

Springfield Central 83, Shepherd Hill 31 — Molly Springer scored 10 points but couldn’t push the visiting No. 5 Rams (14-8) over the top-seeded Golden Eagles (18-4) in a Western Mass. Division 1 semifinal in Springfield. Makayla Thompson led all scorers with 13 points for Springfield Central.

Division 4 West

Quaboag 46, Ware 43 — Kiarra Dorman scored 14 points and Emma Stanton added 10 to help the visiting No. 5 Cougars (15-8) rally to defeat the top-seeded Indians (18-4) in a Western Mass. Division 4 semifinal at UMass Amherst. Quaboag advances to play No. 2 Mt. Everett in the championship at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at UMass Amherst. Ware’s Jordan Halgas led all scorers with 22 points.

More school tournament coverage at bostonglobe.com/sports