NEW BEDFORD — In a Big 3 matchup that started off with Durfee and New Bedford neck-and-neck, the Hilltoppers were dominated by a stout Whaler defense in the final three quarters of an 81-54 Big 3 Conference boys' basketball loss on Friday night.
The Hilltoppers (8-10, 0-4 Big 3) must win their final two regular-season games (home to Boston Latin, at Attleboro) to return to the Division 1 South playoffs.
“Teams are averaging only 53 points per game on us, which is pretty damn good,” New Bedford coach Brian Rudolph said. “Last time we played them they were in a triangle-and-two, so we prepared for that just in case they did play it. But, I like our chances against any team if they play us in man-to-man or zone.”
Tyshaun Lopes (9 points) and AB Medrano (7) were Durfee's top scorers.
Both teams came out swinging in the first, utilizing the press defense on one-another from the start.
The tight defensive play kept things close throughout the entire quarter, with the Whalers and Hilltoppers exchanging the lead seven times in the span. NB senior captain Trae Rezendes-Cross drilled a 3-pointer with five-seconds left to give New Bedford a 17-16 edge to close out the first.
Rezendes-Cross continued to show off his range in the second, and didn't waste any time doing it. The guard opened up quarter with a 3-pointer at 7:23, which he followed up with a jumper after Co-captain Elijah Diaz stole the ensuing Durfee inbound. Then, he hit another 3-pointer at 6:24 for eight points in less than a minute, providing New Bedford with a 25-16 cushion.
From that point on, New Bedford (14-4, 2-2 Big Three) took control of the game and soared to a 39-23 lead to close out the half. Diaz contributed two from deep as well in the quarter. Durfee was shut down by the Whalers’ shift to man-to-man defense in the quarter, resulting in a paltry seven points for the Hilltoppers.
“In the second quarter we went to straight-up man defense. That changed a lot for us. One of our strengths is our defense,” explained Rudolph. “We have the ability to switch, and Durfee does a good job, especially with Ryan Rodrigues (Durfee assistant, former Whaler player) over there who knows the press, so they break it pretty well."
In the second half, New Bedford would change defensive schemes periodically, at times relying on the press while at others sticking to a man defense. While effective, the strategy led to the Whalers getting called for fouls at a rapid rate, combining with the Hilltoppers for 27 fouls in the final two quarters.
Durfee continued to struggle to find a counter punch to a tight Whaler defense in the second half. The Hilltoppers were outscored 24-12 in the third, and found themselves at a 30-point deficit (58-28) with 3:00 still remaining. NB senior guard Lamar Antone took over in the quarter with 11 points, including two 3-pointers, on the way to a 63-35 lead entering the fourth. In comparison, the teams combined for 16 fouls in the first half.
With the game out of reach, New Bedford began to mix its reserves. The 16-point fourth quarter was the highest scoring on a tough night for Durfee.
Antone led the game in scoring with 22 points, followed by Rezendes-Cross with 19 points and three 3-pointers, and Diaz finished with 15 points.