With their season on the line, Darrius Hyppolite made sure Bridgewater-Raynham lived to see another day.
With the Trojans trailing by three and less than two minutes to go, Hyppolite drilled the game tying three. Moments later, Hyppolite struck again knocking down the go-ahead trey that put the Trojans in front for good as they defeated host Catholic Memorial, 62-55, in the opening round of the Division 1 South tournament. Hyppolite scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Defensively the Trojans (15-6) were nearly flawless holding the Knights (16-5) to just 2-of-27 from beyond the arc.
“Darrius (Hyppolite) has shown such growth,” said Bridgewater-Raynham coach Doug Alves. “Ive really challenged him since he was a freshman and he’s come along and been a mentally tough kid. He’s become really dependable.”
Catholic Memorial led 42-37 going into the fourth, and a Jarron Flynn (18 points) 3-point play upped the Knights edge to eight. The Trojans responded by going on an 8-0 run highlighted by a Hyppolite trey to pull within 45-44 with just over five minutes left.
Anthony Morales drove to the basket and Will McDonnell knocked two at the stripe to put CM back up five, but two free throws from Doug Alves and one from Tony Fernandes trimmed the Knights advantage to 50-47 with less than three minutes to play.
That’s when Hyppolite struck.
The senior guard came through with a steal, dribbled up the floor and swished a pull up three-pointer. On BR’s next possession, Hyppolite put the Trojans in front faking a drive to the middle before stepping back and connecting on a trey that rattled home to give BR a 53-50 advantage.
CM turned it over on its next possession and Connor Rubenskas hit two at the line to increase the Trojans lead to 55-50. A Flynn put back pulled the Knights back to within one possession, but Hyppolite converted a three-point play off the press break to give the Trojans a six point lead with less than a minute to play.
"I just stayed locked in," said Hyppolite. "A lot of teams try to take me out of the game but I just stayed calm and confident in my shot. I kept telling myself, 'the next one is going to fall.'"
Both teams came out looking to play up-tempo operating in a full-court press.
Four first-quarter points from Fernandes put the Trojans up 16-14 after one.
Catholic Memorial jumped in front to begin the second quarter going on a 6-0 run highlighted by four straight from Morales to take a 20-16 lead. The Knights first half advantage got up to as many as five on consecutive baskets for Flynn, but a Fernandes foul line jumper trimmed CM’s lead to 28-25.
Kani Glover sent CM into the locker room on a high note as he finished at the rim as the buzzer sounded to put the Knights up 30-25 at the half.
