Bishop Connolly boys hand Durfee a season-ending loss

Story has been updated with info, quotes and videos

FALL RIVER — Bishop Connolly's rest time will be more enjoyable with this win under its belt.

In their regular-season finale, the D4 South top-seeded Cougars (17-5, 13-3 for tourney purposes) earned a season series split with cross-street rival Durfee by edging the Hilltoppers 73-71 in boys' basketball on Wednesday on Lafrance Gymnasium's Shea Court.

Junior Matt Myron scored 30 points and senior John Rego hit a game-winning top-of-the-key 3 with 54 seconds to play.

Durfee (3-17 final record) led 71-67 before getting outscored 6-0 in the last 100 seconds.

"We had lost two in a row and we were looking to get back in the win column going into the tournament," said Connollly coach Bill Shea, whose team has played 18 games since Jan. 13. "But whether we won or lost tonight, the postseason starts next week, so everybody's 0-0. We've got to take a couple days off, rest up a little bit and just ready for this tournament."

Durfee had beaten Connolly 70-57 on Dec. 19.

"It was really important just because it's really important to go into the playoffs with a win, and a winning mentality," Myron said. "We really wanted this win because Durfee usually gets a lot of the games (vs. Connolly)."

Matt Myron (30 pts), Bishop Connolly junior, after 73-71 win over Durfee. ⁦@bishopconnolly⁩pic.twitter.com/UHIWPH0Vzk

— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN)February 20, 2020

THE SCORING

John Rego finished with 15 points and his big 3 came with the shot clock close to evaporating. Senior teammate Jamison DeFarias came off the bench to contribute 10 points, including a huge pull-up jumper to start the closing 6-0 run. Colin D'Ambrosio hit the front end of a 1-and-1 for the 73-71 lead with 24.2 seconds to play.

For Durfee, it was once again another evening of sophomore power. Jevon Holley netted 18 points and his three-point play with 2:21 to play gave Durfee the 71-67 lead. He missed a 1-and-1 with 27.3 seconds left. Sophomore center Sage Paradis, a recent addition to the varsity, was a huge factor, literally and figuratively. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder muscled his way to 17 points and "played a monster game" in Hilltopper coach Joe DacRuz's words. Sophomore Mickey Sary, another recent call-up, had three 3-pointers and 13 points. Sophomore Jason Hall bagged 12 points.

BOTH SIDES SHORTHANDED

Connolly started the game without starting forward Wes Brown (ill) while Durfee was minus starting forwards Nelson DeCarvalho (ill) and Elijah Coleman (injured). Shea reported that the flu has hit his team hard, limiting him to six players at a recent practice. Connolly starting forward AJ Sousa (10 points) landed hard on his right backside midway through the first half and did not return to the floor until Peter Rego fouled out with 27.3 seconds left.

THE WAY IT'S BEEN

For Durfee, Wednesday's game was a disappointing but fitting end to a season that has been marked by late-game struggles. "It's been a struggle all season with second halves, especially fourth quarters," DaCruz, the first-year head coach, said. "We fought hard today. We had a couple guys out, a couple starters that were banged up and couldn't participate."

THE FLOW OF THE GAME

Connolly erupted for 14 points in the last 3:50 of the first quarter for a 20-14 lead at the first stop. It was 37-37 at halftime. A 10-0 run gave Durfee a 51-41 lead with 4:32 left in the third quarter. A Myron three-point play at the end of the third quarter pulled Connolly within 60-56.

THE FINAL SECONDS

After D'Ambrosio's 1-for-2 at the foul line made it 73-71, Durfee called timeout with 20.1 seconds left. In the remaining time, Hall's 3 from the right side was long. The rebound got tipped around. Durfee got the ball to Holley for a tough long buzzer-beating 3 from deep on the left side. The shot was short.

MORE QUOTES

Joe DaCruz: "It's been a struggle all season. It's been tough to get through it. Myself as a coach, I've learned a lot this season, to be quite honest. The future's looking bright. We're just going to continue to build, work hard in the offseason and be ready to go for next season."

Matt Myron on the upcoming D4 South playoffs: "We're going to go as far as we can. We're going to try our hardest, and hopefully make our goal."

Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.

John Rego game winning shot. Connolly 73, Durfee 71.pic.twitter.com/lZf8BS3SHh

— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN)February 20, 2020

Final. Connolly 73, Durfee 71. Final 20 seconds. ⁦@bishopconnolly⁩pic.twitter.com/n1acPX8YtM

— Greg Sullivan (@GregSullivanHN)February 20, 2020