Certainly, playing against top competition early in the season has its benefits. It gives experience to younger players, provides solid leadership opportunities for others, and offers the chance for the good players on a team to be challenged. Of course, the flip side to that is it also can expose some issues.

The Southern Regional girls lacrosse team ran the gamut on April 1, when the Rams trailed Trinity Hall by just two at halftime only to fall, 13-5, by the end of the contest.

“We were with them until the last 10 to 12 minutes,” said coach Lori Johnson, whose squad started the season 2-1…