From a big-picture standpoint, Arl­ing­­ton­­’­s­­ boys’ hockey game against Hingham on Sunday was a hit.

The teams squared off at Matthews Arena in honor of Catherine Malatesta, an Arlington High School student who lost her battle with cancer last summer. All ticket sales went toward the Catherine Malatesta Scholarship Foundation. About 400 were in attendance.

“That was the important thing today, to have a big crowd and to raise some money,’’ said Arlington coach John Messuri, who was a linemate of Catherine’s father Gregg when they played for the Spy Ponders in the ’80s.

From a small-picture standpoint, it was a hit, too.

The seventh-ranked Spy Ponders, who want the experts to know they deserve a spot in the upcoming Super 8 tournament, grinded out a 2-1 victory against the 16th-ranked Harbormen.

“I think we’re playing pretty good right now,’’ said Messuri, speaking slowly to emphasize his sentiment. “We were deficient in a couple of areas that we had to figure out earlier this year, and once we figured out those areas, we got on a roll.’’

Arlington (14-3-3), which hasn’t lost in eight games, struggled in the early going, picking up three minor penalties and allowing 12 shots on goalie Jack Pinard. Hingham (10-8-3), however, failed to take advantage and the period ended scoreless.

“After the first [period], I told them two things,’’ said Messuri. “ I said, ‘I told you how they play, I told you what an elite program they are, I told you how they are coached,’ and I told them, ‘The good news is, we couldn’t have played any worse. And we’re zero-zero, so let’s get after it.’

The Spy Ponders eventually got after it in the second period, with a shorthanded, unassisted goal by Peter Scheschareg. The breakaway goal came with less than a minute left in the period.

A goal with 7:24 expired in the third period by Kevin Ouellette made it 2-0. The forward started behind his own net, smoothly skated up ice, dodging defenders before finding the net on a slap shot from near the blue line.

“I happened to find the lane,’’ said Ouellette. “As for the shot, I don’t really know how it went in.’’

A goal by Hingham’s Gray Betts with three minutes left made it 2-1, but Arlington effectively played keepaway for the rest of the game.

“Hingham is a really good team and that was a big win,’’ said Ouellette. “We’re hoping that will help push us into the Super 8, but we’ll see.’’

Malden Catholic 5, Bishop Hendricken (R.I.) 0 — Sophomore Colin Nestor netted two goals and junior Kyle Casey recorded his sixth shutout of the season.

Walpole 3, St. Peter-Marian 1 — Owen Hunter netted the winner 3:38 into the third period to lead the visiting Rebels (13-3) past the Guardians (6-13-1) at the Hart Center.

Boys’ basketball

Peabody 62, Beverly 59 — Matt D'Amato (22 points) and Junior Estrella (21 points) led the way for the Tanners (10-9).

Cardinal Spellman 72, O'Bryant 71 — Mike Reale led the way with 18 points while senior forward Dimitri St. Louis added 14 points and 13 boards to pace the Cardinals (16-4).

Methuen 78, Lawrence 67 — Senior Keegan Lannon had 22 points for the Rangers (13-8).

Marblehead 56, Saugus 49 — Junior captain Patrick Bulger led the way for the Magicians (8-12) with 21 points.

Cambridge 79, Brockton 75 — Jakigh Dottin finished with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while sophomore Diman Carrigan notched a triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocks for the No. 1 Falcons (18-1).

St. Mary’s 69, St. Bernard’s 53 — Marcus Babineau scored 14 of his 20 points in the first quarter, including hitting five 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough for the visiting Bernardians (7-13). Joey Saba added 18 points for STB, while St. Mary’s (15-5) was led by Johnny Mercado’s game-high 22 points.

Boys’ swimming

Phillips Andover 104, Phillips Exeter 82 — In a swim rivalry that started in 1919, Andover won for the 11th straight year behind Marcello Rossi (200 free) and Darren Ty (200 IM).

More highlights on bostonglobe.com/schools.