After 15 minutes at the Ice Palace in Burlington, it seemed as if 16th-ranked Framingham was making an on-the-fly blueprint on how to do what no team has done since Dec. 23d — beat fourth-ranked Burlington.

Framingham (13-2-4) was winning neutral zone battles, matching the fast pace, and creating precious 2-on-1 scoring opportunities. The Flyers were making Burlington visibly uncomfortable for the first time in a while.

Framingham scored first, a goal by Tyler Anes on one of those odd-rush counters, which silenced the sellout crowd in the semifinal game of the 24th Ed Cahoon Memorial Tournament.

Burlington, which took 15 shots in a back-and-forth first period, got a goal back at the 10:42 mark on a breakaway by Riley Gilbert, which left Flyers goalie Owen Parker on his back.

As a whole, though, the Red Devils seemed surprised by Framingham’s ferocity.

“After the first period, I told my guys in the locker room, ‘Keep them off the board! We’re gonna score again but we have to keep them off the board!’’ said Framingham coach Paul Spear. “Playing a team like them, you want to play them as long as you can close. Because at the end anything can happen.’’

Try as they might, the Flyers couldn’t get back to that same successful recipe.

Trailing 2-1 after two periods, Framingham briefly left the floodgates ajar in the third period, allowing two more Burlington goals, eventually losing, 4-2.

“I think we had a little more depth and I think that was the difference,’’ said Burlington coach Bob Conceison. “Our top players were good and their top players were good. I just think we had a little more depth as the game went on.’’

The Red Devils played four lines deep all game. Their defense, anchored by two imposing seniors, Josh Boulos and Shane O’Halloran, gave the offense the confidence to take risks and create chances.

The Red Devils grabbed the lead back at 10:14 of the second period on a shot on a rebound by James Beaton.

A few minutes later, the Flyers had a chance to tie the game, and perhaps wrestle away the momentum, when a 2-on-1 rush materialized, but Burlington goalie Nick Howard thwarted the shot, preserving the lead.

“The save on the breakaway that he made, when it was still 2-1,’’ said Conceison, “that was a huge save.’’

Gilbert got another goal for the Red Devils a few minutes into the third, and O’Halloran came from defense to seal the game with a slapshot goal a few minutes later.

Jamie Brigham added a goal for Framingham with seven minutes to play, but the comeback bid and the scrappy effort from the Flyers wasn’t enough.

“We were disappointed. Our guys in the locker room are not walking out of here saying how excited we are to have competed with Burlington,’’ said Spear. “We wanted to win and we didn’t do that so we’re not happy.’’

The win for the Red Devils pads a hard-to-argue case for a Super 8 bid, and pushes them to the final of the tournament against Chelmsford on Thursday.

Girls’ hockey

Austin Prep 3, Longmeadow 0 — Senior goalie Caty Flagg picked up her 23d career shutout with 11 saves, making her the all-time shutout leader for Austin Prep girls’ hockey.

Wellesley 4, Barnstable 2 — Junior defenseman Cat Donahue had two goals for the Red Raiders.

St. Mary’s 3, Arlington 1 — Junior goalie Emily Stephenson had 25 saves.

Auburn 8, Wilmington 7 — Senior Katie Mason had four goals, including the winner with 40 seconds left in regulation to boost the visiting Rockets (5-10) over the Wildcats. Julia Crowley and Hunter Bailey assisted on Mason’s winning tally. Nicole Bousquet added two goals for the Rockets.

Boys’ basketball

South Boston 77, Lowell Catholic 76 — Senior guard Angel Cortijo hit a half-court shot as time expired for the Knights.

BC High 71, Plymouth South 65 — Senior Jack Loughnane led the way for the Eagles (11-6) with 23 points and eight assists.

Lynn Tech 70, Whittier 52 — Seniors Michael Anaya (28 points) and Justin Lewis (12 points, 12 rebounds) led the way for the Tigers (4-15).

North Reading 73, Greater Lawrence 53 — Senior forward Justin Dorosh scored 25 points an grabbed eight rebounds for the 19th-ranked Hornets (17-2).

Wareham 63, Bishop Stang 56 — Junior guard Jovahn Thomas had 24 points and nine rebounds to secure a win for the Vikings.

Lincoln-Sudbury 69, Lexington 59 — Junior Jack O'Connell had 19 points for the Warriors (9-9) in the consolation game of the Scarlet Hawk Classic.

Rockland 61, Hanover 57 — Senior forward Stephen Norris had 16 points for the Red Raiders (16-1).

Lexington Christian , Landmark — Sophomore Malik Jackson had 17 points and 9 rebounds and senior Jude Gurrier had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions.

Greater Lowell 60, Chelsea 58 — Raymie Brown had 14 points to help the Griffins secure their third consecutive CAC title.

Girls’ basketball

Falmouth Academy 69, Hull 47 — Sophomore Kendall Currence had 36 points for the Mariners (21-0).

Lincoln-Sudbury 73, Ursuline 37 — Sophomore center Sophia Rosa led the Warriors (10-8) with 14 points.

Acton-Boxborough 41, Franklin 37 — Senior forward Emma Crooks scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, leading a comeback for the Colonials to win.

Milton 45, North Quincy 41 — Senior Sara McMenamin led the Wildcats (5-13) with 23 points.

Hamilton-Wenham 46, Wakefield 37 — Senior center Julia Saneorn had 16 points and 17 rebounds while sophomore forward Melissa Iannuzzo had 13 points.

For more highlights, go to BostonGlobe/com/schools