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Down to just nine players, Haverhill continues its fight to end the boys hoop season on a positive note.

The Hillies battled to the finish but fell to the host team in the Woburn Tournament, 72-64.

Joe Bramanti continued a torrid week with 24 points, seven assists and four steals for Andover in a tough 78-72 win over Haverhill. Brian Miller muscled up for 19 points with 10 rebounds for the Warriors. Dante Perella had 19 for Haverhill, and Dennis Driftmeyer scored 18 points.

Freshman Noah Vonleh scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but it was not enough as Haverhill lost 62-60 to Lowell. The game went back and forth before Lowell, who hit 11 3-pointers on the night, took a six-point lead with about two minutes left. The Hillies drew within two points with a couple seconds left but Lowell then ran the clock out.

Haverhill High picked up a much-needed win, halting a three-game losing skid with a 78-66 victory over Methuen. "We're playing a lot better right not, not just a couple guys either," said Hillie coach Mike Trovato. "A lot of different people played great today." Dante Perella delivered his best game as a Hillie, dropping in 22 points with five 3-pointers. Dennis Driftmeyer chipped in 15, while freshman Noah Vonleh kicked in 14 points and eight assists. Ranger James Staples led all scorers with a career-high 28. Five days after torching the Hillies for 37, Raudy Minaya tossed in 26 points yesterday.

As usual, a solid crowd turned out at the Mansfield Gym to celebrate "Bobby Costello Night," and while the home team fought hard, unbeaten Central Catholic was just too much, topping host Haverhill, 65-52. Carson Desrosiers dominated with a dozen points, 12 boards and eight blocks. Jimmy Zenevitch had 15 points, which played without Michael Alvarez and Evan Sheehan, each of whom was nursing an ankle sprain. Haverhill's Dennis Driftmeyer led all scorers with 16 points.

Capping a career-high 37-point night, junior Raudy Minaya drilled a pull-up jumper off an inbounds play with 8/10ths of a second left to earn Methuen a 65-63 victory over Haverhill. With help from Michael Gorman's 10 assists, Minaya went 16 for 24 from the floor to easily set a new personal standard. Freshman Noah Vonleh was a bulldog for the Hillies, finishing with 21 points.

Dante Perella was on fire from the outside, hitting five 3-pointers for a game-high 15 points, and Haverhill's defense thwarted a late Billerica surge to hold on for a 53-52 victory. Sophomore Nate Bresnahan and junior Steven Allen dug in with strong defense in the Hillie victory.

HAVERHILL — Playing at full strength for the first time in the still young basketball season, Haverhill ran away from Pentucket yesterday in a 63-56 victory.

Forced to play the first five games without suspended seniors Dennis Driftmeyer and Andrew Connolly, Haverhill lost four times, including a 44-point drubbing earlier in the week at Lawrence. But after watching Driftmeyer lead the Hillies down the stretch against Pentucket (4-5), the Hillies appear ready to make some noise in the Merrimack Valley Conference.

Dawrin Pereyra was on fire from deep, hitting 7 for 11 from deep, as Lawrence drubbed Haverhill 76-32. Jaylen Alicea added 14 points and seven assists. Alison Cueto led the inspired defensive effort.

Freshman Noah Vonleh had another commanding effort as his 16 points and 13 rebounds led Haverhill to its first victory of the year, 73-60 over Tewksbury. Eric Jones contributed strong defense with five steals to go with 10 points.