At the midway point of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Assocation A Conference boys lacrosse race, things could not be any tighter.

A look at Friday's results provides proof:

*Top-ranked Gilman (8-0, 4-0 in the league) needs a couple of late fourth-quarter goals to finally get the needed seperation from No. 9 McDonogh for a 7-4 win.
*No. 2 Calvert Hall (8-1, 5-0) doesn't take its first lead against No. 5 Loyola (7-3, 3-1) until under two minutes remaining when Phil Castranova scores the game-winner in a 9-8 win.
*No. 3 St. Mary's (9-1, 3-1) has an even closer call against No. 4 Boys' Latin (9-2, 3-2) when Mark McNeill scores the winner with 2.9 seconds left.

Playing in tight contests and finding ways to win should prove beneficial come playoff time when the intensity is cranked up another level. Until then, expect more of the same starting today when Gilman hosts two-time defending champ Loyola in a rematch of last year's title game and St. Mary's travels to St. Paul's.