Bourne Misses Last Chances, Takes Early Exit from Tourney

BOURNE – With 18.6 seconds left in the game and down 56-54, the ball went in and out of the basket, not once, but twice.

Bourne Basketball

Bourne High’s Connor Schaefer played brilliantly in his last-ever high school game last night, pouring in 14 points and taking down 14 rebounds. The senior co-captain watched his Canalmen fall to Archbishop Williams, 56-54.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

And with 0.009-tenths of one second remaining, and one final albeit ultra-slim chance to save their postseason hopes, Bourne High sophomore co-captain Jacob Ashworth took the inbounds pass, somehow dribbled twice and fired up a halfcourt desperation shot that went wide as the host Canalmen were left dazed and stunned. The 14th seeded Archbishop Williams team eliminated the 3rd-seeded, 16-4 Bourne squad by the final score of 56-54.

Archbishop Williams, just 11-9 on the season coming into Thursday night’s MIAA Division 3 South boys’ basketball first round tournament game, advances to the quarterfinals against Norton. Bourne’s 2014-15 campaign, with the loss, comes to an abrupt end at 16-5 overall.

Down by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter, Bourne utilized a full-court press and the foul line, as well as key buckets from Ashworth, Chris Davis and Connor Schaefer to come storming back and tie the game at 51-51, thanks to Parker Freedman.

Freedman, who finished the night with a team-high 19 points, netted just two points in the fourth quarter but they could not have been more critical. Down 51-49 with 3:29 left, Freedman drained both freebies to make it 51-51.

A full 1:30 was ticked of the game clock thereafter as both teams battled fiercely to take the lead, but could not sink a bucket until two screens isolated sophomore Tim Chase in the corner and he buried a back-breaking baseline trey to make it 54-51. Just 1:46 remained in the game but in basketball terms that can be an eternity.

Ashworth drew a foul six seconds later and went to the line (1:40). He missed the first one, but then nailed the second one to make it 54-52. Archbishop Williams was in serious foul trouble at this stage, having hit the double-bonus with 10 team fouls.

Bourne's Kylar Macoratti tries to trap Archbishop Williams' Brian Keating as Canalmen head coach Scott Ashworth (background) implores him to hurry in the game's final minute. Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

Bourne’s Kylar Macoratti tries to trap Archbishop Williams’ Brian Keating as Canalmen head coach Scott Ashworth (background) implores him to hurry in the game’s final minute.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

The Bishops, however, answered and answered big when junior CJ Golbranson hit a bucket to make it 56-52 and time was ticking down quickly on Bourne’s hopes and opportunities when Schaefer, who played his heart out, answered back with a nice pivot move down low for two to make it 56-54.

With 22.4 seconds left, however, Archbishop Williams’ Sidney Limage, who played brilliantly throughout, drew a foul in the backcourt and had the chance to put the game away. Bourne had reached the seven-foul, 1-and-1 situation. If Limage hit the first one, he’d force Bourne to go for three to tie, and if he hit two, the odds would be wholly stacked against the hosts.

Alas, Limage missed the first bonus freebie and Schaefer boxed out Archie’s big dog, John Carnell, for the rebound.  Ashworth took the ball across mid-court and Canalmen head coach Scott Ashworth immediately called time out.

With 18.6 seconds left, Bourne had ample time to set up any play it so desired but Archie’s defensive zone was stifling and time was ticking. Chris Davis drove the lane and laid up a pretty underhanded finger roll off the glass but it rolled around the rim and out. Freedman was there for the rebound and put back but his shot, too, went astray.

The season basically ended right then and there for the stunned Canalmen, even with their final desperation shot just seconds later.

Schaefer was a monster beneath the basket in his final high school game. He turned in a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He also had three assists and two blocked shots.

Freedman, only a sophomore, and as noted above, was the offensive leader with 19 points. He was matched by Archies’ junior Carnell who finished with 19 points as well.

Bourne High senior captain Connor Schaefer (34) tries to bloack the route to the basket against Archbishop Williams' John Carnell. Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

Bourne High senior captain Connor Schaefer (34) tries to block the route to the basket against Archbishop Williams’ John Carnell.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

Limage had nine points and nine rebounds for the Bishops.

Minus Schaefer, the entirety of the Bourne roster will return next season.

The Canalmen went 21-52 from the field and 10-12 from the free throw line.

— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm

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