The Orioles got their shot at two of the division’s best last week, and the result was a split decision and a pair of thrilling games.
On Wednesday night, Conant traveled to Stevens to face the one-loss Cardinals, who’d fallen to Monadnock but otherwise been impressive. The game was knotted at 59-59 with just 12 seconds left when senior Drew Marro rose up and knocked down a huge three-pointer that gave Conant the win.
That momentum carried over into Friday’s game, when undefeated No. 1 Hopkinton showed up to the Pratt for a potential playoff preview.
It was a full moon on Friday the 13th, but all the Orioles saw in the sky were Hawks soaring up to block their shots. Hopkinton freshman center Kevin Newton-Delgado – all six feet, four inches of him – was a monster, blocking seven shots, a handful of which went rocketing into the stands, sending fans scattering. That ferocious defense sparked Hopkinton to start the game on a 13-4 run.
But this game was at the raucous bandbox called the Pratt, where visitors have to think twice – if they can think at all, over the noise. With the energy high, Conant climbed back and evened things up, down just one at the half.
The Orioles would dig themselves a hole in the third quarter, with some sloppy ballhandling leading to turnovers. And while the Conant D was enough to hold Hopkinton to 10 in the third, Conant only mustered four of their own. After Cam Cyr’s buzzerbeater three, the Hawks were up 33-26 heading into the fourth.
Still, the Orioles fought to catch up. James Record scored seven of his team-high 18 in the fourth, and the O’s were down just four in the waning moments when Marro went up for another of his trademark huge threes. The ball would rim out and Hopkinton eventually snatched it up and iced it for a 41-37 win.
Conant (3-3) may have a chance to take a breather, or at least improve their record, as they travel to Hillsboro-Deering (0-6) tonight at 6:30 p.m. and then move on to host Raymond (1-5) Friday night at 6:30 p.m.