MANSFIELD, Mass. — Rocky DeAndrade took control of the game in the fourth quarter and didn’t let go until the final buzzer sounded in overtime, helping to guide Mansfield to a 57-48 overtime win over Franklin.
DeAndrade scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Hornets survived an incredible effort from the Panthers.
It was an extremely close game throughout, with the largest regulation lead coming with 2:05 left in the second quarter. DeAndrade floated one up that sophomore Brendan Hill slammed home to give the Hornets a 22-17 lead. The lead didn’t last as Sam Bohmiller hit a three and Chris Rodgers’ layup around Hill tied things at 22 at the halftime break.
The third quarter ended with Mansfield up a bucket at 36-34, but a Pat O’Reilly free throw with 6.1 seconds left in the game tied things at 46 to send the game to overtime.
“They defend as good as anyone we’ll ever play,” Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan said. “They’re one of the special defensive teams in our division. Every basket is a grind, they don’t give up a lot of second chance points. Our guys stayed with it and battled through it.”
The overtime period belonged to DeAndrade and Mansfield though. The home side outscored Franklin 11-2 as DeAndrade scored two free throws to make it 50-47 before nailed a three that made it 54-48.
“He’s been so steady all year just making big plays,” Vaughan said. “The last two games, he’s carried this team just making big baskets.”
DeAndrade added an overtime steal late as Franklin tried to muster up some offense.
“Rocky was the MVP of that game,” Franklin head coach Dean O’Connor said. “He made every big shot and that was the difference.”
Bohmiller paced the Panthers with 19 points while Rodgers added 11. Bohmiller will be one of five seniors Franklin will lose to graduation.
“We’ve had a lot of good players and Sam is right up there with any of them,” O’Connor said. “He’ just a great kid. I’m going to miss just having him around, never mind basketball. He played his heart out. He doesn’t come out and that was pretty much the whole season, he’s an iron man. He had a hell of a career.”
A full recap with video with Mike Vaughan and Rocky DeAndrade will be posted on ESPN Boston High Schools.
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