PORTLAND – The McAuley girls’ basketball team is turning the cliche on its head. Play with fire long enough and you get pretty good at playing with fire.

The Lions trailed visiting Thornton for most of three and a half quarters before pulling ahead late for a 41-36 SMAA win Friday night.

Just another night at the office for McAuley. Last week, the Lions had to go to overtime for a win against Deering and got all they could handle from Windham in another close victory.

Whatever works. McAuley is 10-0 and on course to defend its Class A championship.

“We’re not playing well in the first half, and that’s on me getting to know this team and getting them better motivated to play at the start,” first-year coach Bill Goodman said. “Having said that, having close games is going to help us down the road.”

It was too close for comfort Friday. Thornton (5-5) led 31-28 with 5:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Then McAuley finally found some offensive rhythm.

The Lions got points on five straight possessions as four different players scored to eke out a 37-32 lead.

But Thornton had one last gasp in it. The Trojans’ Jordan Agger hit a foul shot and Olivia Shaw hit a bucket with 1:21 remaining to trim McAuley’s lead to 37-35.

That’s when Thornton’s offense, for the first time all night, couldn’t get a bucket when the Trojans needed a big basket. Olivia Smith hit a pair of free throws and Alexa Coulombe hit a two as well as McAuley slogged to the win.

The difference, as it’s been when the Lions find themselves in a pinch, is variety on offense. Coulombe and Smith work the post like pros.

Molly Mack and Allie Clement play shut-down defense — as well as hit the occasional 15-foot jumper.

“We’re just such a team and we have each other’s back,” Clement said.

“Anyone can step up and be a leader at any time. So many of us can step up when we need it.”

Clement was one of those key players. Thornton got hot in the first quarter as Meghan Agger hit a pair of three-pointers to help put the Trojans up 14-6.

It looked like Thornton would go on nursing its single-digit lead indefinitely when Clement hit a jumper, picked up a steal, and got fouled making a layup on successive possessions. She hit the shot from the foul line and McAuley trailed 19-17 at halftime.

Thornton would never lead by more than three points for the remainder of the game as the lead see-sawed back and forth.

Thornton Coach Eric Marston just shook his head after the game. The Trojans have been close several times.

“I don’t think it’s so much of a gut punch,” Marston said.

“The girls have taken in the atmosphere of a competitive team. We played with composure and we’re excited to play again. We’re excited for what’s to come.”

What’s to come for McAuley is likely more fireworks:

The Lions’ next game is against Scarborough next Friday, the only other unbeaten team in Western Class A.