LOWELL — For the first three quarters of Saturday evening’s Division 1 North sectional final, it appeared that a single shot in the game’s waning seconds might sway the outcome.

Sensing his first state semifinal berth just eight minutes away, guard Ghared Boyce was determined to secure Everett’s fate much sooner, so the senior heeded the advice coach John DiBiaso gave him at halftime: “Keep being aggressive.’’

With the top-seeded Crimson leading by 2 entering the fourth, Boyce peeled off 9 straight points, part of a 19-2 run that effectively eliminated second-seeded Lawrence, 68-56, and gave Everett its first sectional title victory since 1994.

Everett (23-1) will play Mansfield in a state semifinal on Monday at TD Garden (7:30 p.m.).

“First time [going to states], it just feels so great,’’ said Boyce, a palpable excitement present in his voice. “It’s a lifetime experience. Sometimes tough teams never get this moment. We cherish the moment and we’re going to keep moving forward.’’

After a nervy first half in which he scored only 7 points, Boyce began cooking.

Trailing by 3 early in the third quarter, its largest deficit of the evening, Everett ripped off an 8-2 run, with Boyce (28 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and senior forward Isaiah Likely (11 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists) doing the heavy lifting.

Still, Lawrence (21-3) battled, maximizing its hoard of 3-point shooters with drive-and-kick opportunities.

Junior Luis Reynoso (12 rebounds) helped keep the Lancers afloat on the glass and Chris Ruiz (15 points, 9 rebounds) proved difficult to contain with the rock in his hands.

It wasn’t enough. Everett may as well have been wearing Globetrotter jerseys to begin the final frame, each possession a master class in passing and finishing. True to form, what really stood out in DiBiaso’s eyes was the Everett defense.

“We worked hard all year, stayed conditioned and I thought our conditioning paid off in the end,’’ he said. “We were very unselfish. We moved the ball, we passed the ball, we played great defense.

“[Lawrence] is a great offensive team, so you know we had to have done something right on defense.’’

Everett senior guard Caleb Jacobs was crucial in opening a 10-0 first-quarter advantage and finished with 9 points and four assists.

Owen Pence can be reached at owen.pence@globe.com.