NORTON - The Norton Middle School basketball teams' fundraising has been so successful, they're ahead of the game.

After being a budget casualty last spring, the teams have raised $13,000. Their program costs about $10,200.

"That gives you a positive balance to carry over to next year," school committee Chairman Thomas Golota told the team captains Monday night.

Boys team co-captain Dan Rafuse said the teams raised $6,000 at a three-hour walk-a-thon Nov. 15 at the Norton High School track. Students collected pledges for laps, with a limit of 20, or five miles. Parent Kathy Ruby said another $92 was donated.

The roughly $7,000 balance comes from the $250 per student user fee. The funds cover transportation, referees and the coaches' stipends. The 16-game season started Dec. 4 at Westport and ends Feb. 12. The boys are 4-3 and the girls are 6-1 entering today's games against Raynham. "It's just great for the school. A lot of kids go to games," Rafuse said.

Mike Brito, the boys' coach and the girls' co-coach, praised the parents for getting behind the program. "Without them, we wouldn't have a season," Brito said.