The priorities set by Methuen/Tewksbury sophomore Sarah Doherty and her mother weren’t exactly matching up two years ago.

In the immediate days following an operation to biopsy a tumor in her brain, Doherty’s head was swollen beyond belief, almost forcing her eyes completely shut. Just a part of the recovery process, there wasn’t as much of a concern for the swelling as much as there was a concern for what the next obstacles were.

For the eighth-grader, perhaps it was the lingering joy of making the Methuen/Tewksbury girls hockey team just a week prior, or maybe a comfort that only someone who’s had brain surgery before can feel.

Either way, Doherty had a unique hill to climb in mind.

“I was worried about (occupational therapy) and (physical therapy) and her being able to track letters on a page in a book; and she’s worried about getting her head squeezed into a hockey helmet,” mother Kim Doherty said. “When she finally squeezed her big fat head into it, it was like the best thing ever (for her).”

It doesn’t take much effort to see just how much hockey means to Doherty.

When she had the procedure to biopsy the tumor, it was the second brain operation the youngster needed within a three-year span for two separate issues. But if removing a rupture in the veins of her brain – arteriovenous malformation, or AVM – in the sixth grade wasn’t enough to deter her, there was little chance a benign tumor would.

Making the team as an eighth-grader was a major accomplishment for Doherty, one that she doesn’t take lightly. It wasn’t too long ago she saw her older cousin, Abby O’Keefe, win the Div. 1 state title at TD Garden, just moments before fellow cousin Will O’Keefe came up just short of the same feat with the Tewksbury boys. Her brother, Billy Doherty, and other cousin, Ben O’Keefe, would go on to win that title for the boys last year.

It’s almost inexplicable how valuable being a Red Ranger is to Doherty, but the defender sure does a good job of showing it.

“I love it,” Doherty said. “I love everything about it. The team, the coaches – they’re always great at teaching me new things. It’s just been so awesome, I’ve had a great time on and off the ice. I love every part of it.”

Seeing Doherty now, you’d be hard-pressed to guess she’s had two brain surgeries.

Red Rangers interim coach Dave O’Hearn says it’s a common occurrence to see the defender laying out to make a play and her hard, physical, vocal style has earned her regular appearances.

With her contributions this year, the Red Rangers (7-3-1) are a legitimate threat for another deep run in the Div. 1 tournament behind a dominant defense. MJ Petisce and Lyla Chapman help lead the group in front of a trio of formidable goalies, combining to allow just over one goal per game despite playing most games in the brutal MVC/DCL.

But through all of those contributions, Doherty’s impact extends much deeper.

“She just brings everything every day,” O’Hearn said. “She’s the life of the party, playing music on the bus. You hear her voice, she’s the loudest one out there. She’s the one who leads us in our cheers. If you’re talking just pure team spirit, it’s Sarah Doherty. She’s just a great person, so coachable, and she works tremendously hard. … She means a lot to a lot of people over here.”

Added head coach Sarah Doucette, on maternity leave: “I think she really understands that balance of working hard and being dedicated, but also enjoying every minute and making sure her teammates are enjoying every minute.”

There are still some scary moments when Doherty takes the ice. Just three weeks ago, Doherty collided with a Shrewsbury forward and lost consciousness for a few seconds after landing directly on the back of her head.

Those few seconds felt like minutes, but Doherty eventually came to. Teammates helped her skate off the ice, and in typical fashion, she let out a joke saying, “Well, that was embarrassing.”

She was cleared to play two games later, and she did with grace.

With that in mind, there’s really no doubt for her parents to let her keep playing.

“Sarah is hockey, through and through,” Kim Doherty said. “Literally, it’s like disconnecting her from what she loves most. It’s just not an option, really. … Hockey is her identity, it’s in her blood.”

Hip – Norwell boys senior Tim Ward scored twice in a 3-2 win over Plymouth North, giving him nine points over the last three games as the Clippers advanced to 12-1 entering the weekend.

Hip – Hamilton-Wenham boys junior forward Will Stidsen earned the clutch award of the week against Latin Academy on Wednesday, scoring the game-tying tally with 2.5 seconds left in regulation before netting the game-winner in overtime.

Hooray – Make it now seven players across boys and girls hockey to pass the 100-point threshold this year, and the second for the Bishop Stang girls. Three weeks removed from Mikayla Brightman becoming the program’s first to crack 100, Lexi Yost scored three goals and dished two assists against Dennis-Yarmouth to join her among the ranks.

The time has finally come for the highly-anticipated Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament. Sunday opens up the three-round tournament featuring 16 of the best public school teams in the state. Eight teams start play at noon in Arlington within the Doherty division, while Brinn division play opens at the same time in Natick.

The Acton-Boxboro girls team is in rare air, winless through 11 games just one year after reaching the Div. 1 state semifinals. But between facing the highest-rated strength of schedule in the state and navigating it with just 11 players after critical transfers and injuries shortened the roster, there isn’t much to groan over. They sit at No. 26 in the latest MIAA power rankings with a good chance at making the playoffs.