BRISTOL – It came down to the wire between the Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central JV teams on Friday evening as the contest was in doubt until the final horn sounded.

And this time around, it was the Lancers who ended up getting to the pay window.

Eastern’s Connor Policarpio drained two huge three-pointers over the final 33 seconds of regulation as the visitors sank the Rams by a 54-52 push from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium on the campus of Bristol Central.

The teams ended up splitting the season series 1-1 and it was late heroics this time around that saw Eastern seize the victory in the end.

After the game, Eastern coach D.J. Parent said that Policarpio (nine points) played his best game of the season, hitting three 3-pointers overall.

As a unit, the Lancers canned 11 three-pointers – getting four big trifectas over a 21-point fourth quarter scoring barrage.

The Lancers trailed 38-33 going into the final eight minutes of action but all the fun took place over the final 65 seconds of the contest.

With the game all knotted at 48-48, Eastern’s Max Stavens (eight points) took a baseline 3 in an attempt to give the Lancers the lead but the shot missed and Central had possession of the ball with 57 seconds left.

Five seconds later, Central’s Julius Powell (18 points) flipped in a lay-up to give the Rams a 50-48 edge.

But Policarpio struck back, hitting his first 3 of the period as Eastern was back on top again – this time at 51-50.

Central’s Mason Stokes responded with a lay-up – giving the Rams a 52-51 lead with 24 seconds showing on the clock.

However, Eastern had a response as Policarpio hit another dagger three-pointer and with 11 seconds to play, Eastern nabbed a 54-52 edge.

The Rams called timeout but had to drive the length of the court in an attempt to tie or go ahead in the fray.

On the inbounds, Policarpio made a huge steal but his lay-up was blocked and with 5.2 seconds remaining, Central needed another big defensive stop.

And a steal by Stokes nearly did the trick but his 3 at the buzzer just missed as Eastern came away with a huge 54-52 victory.

Nate Fries had a brilliant fourth quarter, hitting 10 of his 12 points over the final stanza while Ben D’Amato notched a huge 11 points.

Brayden Dauphinais also did well, scoring seven points for the winners.

After Powell’s 18, Jayeson Van Beveren added 13 for the Rams.

Eastern led 14-10 after one period while snaring a 26-23 tally at the halftime break.

Central outscored the Kingstreeters 15-7 over the third tilt but that 38-33 cushion failed to hold in the end.

CCC Region B boys basketball

BRISTOL EASTERN 54, BRISTOL CENTRAL 52

Bristol Eastern 14 12 7 21 – 54

Bristol Central 10 13 15 14 – 52

BRISTOL EASTERN (54): Ray Williams 1 0 2, Connor Policarpio 3 0 9, Lucas Sward 2 0 5, Ben D’Amato 4 0 11, Brayden Dauphinais 2 2 7, Mason Harris 0 0 0, Nate Fries 5 0 12, Max Stavens 2 3 8. Totals: 19 5 54.

BRISTOL CENTRAL (52): Mike Allan 1 3 5, Mikay McMahon 1 0 3, Mason Stokes 1 1 3, Aaron Brown 1 2 4, Harry Ross 1 2 4, Devon Astacio 1 0 2, Jayeson Van Beveren 6 1 13, Julius Powell 8 2 18. Totals: 20 11 52.

Three-point goals: Policarpio (BE) 3, Sward (BE), D’Amato (BE) 3, Dauphinais (BE), Fries (BE) 2, Stavens (BE), McMahon (BC).