Southern Regional boys basketball head coach John Pampalone absolutely expects his Rams to be in some close games throughout the season. But it’s not a stretch to think he’d prefer his squad not blow huge leads doing so.

“We have to control the basketball and learn how to finish teams off and win games,” he said following the Rams’ 59-58 victory over Freehold Borough Jan. 3, after Southern took a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter.