Byron Ireland had stepped up more and more lately, Annapolis coach Dan Smalley said, and no more than Thursday night. The sophomore was necessary for the No. 14 Panthers to survive a one-possession game, defeating Meade, 65-62, in the final game of the regular season.

Ireland piled up 26 points – 13 in each half – to power the Panthers.

Smalley knows there’s going to be a target on his guard’s back come March.

“He’s going to be critical in the playoffs,” Smalley said. “I hope other people step up because that’s the way it’s going to be.”

Franklin 63, Towson 54: AJ Sims scored 14 points and the host Indians (15-6) beat the Generals (8-11) to advance to the Baltimore County championship. Franklin will face No. 3 New Town at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Towson University. The Indians led by 14 points at the half before Towson cut the deficit to one at the end of the third quarter. Franklin pulled away in the final four minutes.

Gerstell 64, Archbishop Curley 54: Jeremiah Stanton (19 points), Anthony Carpenter (12 points) and Ahmad Harrison (11) led the host Falcons (20-12) past the Friars (16-11) in a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference semifinal. Gerstell beat Curley, 70-66, in the regular-season finale Feb. 15.

St. Paul’s 58, Severn 48: The visiting Admirals (14-12) cut the lead to 35-31 in the third quarter, but the Crusaders (19-7) stayed in front to win an MIAA B Conference semifinal.

No. 10 Atholton 68, Mount Hebron 51: The host Raiders used a 21-12 run in the third quarter to break free of the Vikings (10-11). The game was tied at 29 in the first half.

Girls

Oakland Mills 76, Winters Mill 36: The host Scorpions (17-4), on the heels of back-to-back county losses last week, raced out to a 15-point lead in the opening five minutes and never slowed down on their way to a victory over the Falcons (11-9) for the team’s second straight non-league win by double digits.

Oakland Mills hit eight threes as a team, finished at the rim with consistently, played swarming defense from start to finish, and created a running clock by the end of the third quarter.

—Brent Kennedy,

Baltimore Sun Media Group

Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.