By Michael Letendre

PLAINVILLE – The Bristol Eastern boys basketball squad broke its five-game skid on Friday night as the Lancers bounced Plainville by a 64-50 final in a CCC South showdown from the Ivan Wood Gymnasium in Plainville.

It was a huge win for Eastern (9-8 overall) as every late season victory helps the Kingstreeters with its postseason positioning.

“Tonight, getting the victory was important,” said Eastern coach Bunty Ray. “But how we did it was even more important.”

The Blue Devils (4-13) were officially eliminated from the state tournament fray over the losing effort.

Eastern improved its shot selection over second half play after a spirited first period in which the visitors hit 6-of-10 shots.

The Lancers then missed 9-of-12 attempts over the next eight minutes as their shooting percentage dropped down to 41-percent for the half.

But Eastern flipped the script over the third and fourth periods, hitting 14-of-23 field goals (60.8-percent) – dropping 3-of-5 shots from three-point territory as Bristol turned an early one-point third period edge into a 45-33 cushion with 2:18 left to play in the frame via an 18-5 run. 

“One of the things we were doing in the first half was bombing away, shooting a low percentage,” said Ray. “We were awful from the free throw line, and we were shooting too quick. We were giving [Plainville] possessions and there you go, we’re even. So, then we maximized our possessions, [then Plainville] shoots quick, we get a couple of [hoops] and there’s your lead.”

“Not to mention it helps to go inside-out and grab those threes.”

All the stars shined for the Lancers as Zaveyn Tate led all scorers with 16 points (6-of-8 field goals), seven rebounds, three assists and two steals over another complete game effort.

Brayden Dauphinais played extremely well, draining 5-of-10 shots from the field for 14 points, to go along with four rebounds and five assists.

Lukas Sward collected 13 points, two rebounds, six assists and did not commit a turnover while sharpshooter Ben D’Amato dropped in 11 points and was aggressive from the field from the start.

Reserve Jordan Chisholm provided six points and three rebounds while Brady Bell and Donte DePass saw action during the fray.

But, once again, reserve power forward/center Isaiah Lawrence-Bynum was critical over Eastern’s winning efforts.

He canned two shots for four points, gobbled up six rebounds and added a couple blocks to keep Plainville at bay.

“We had a match-up problem,” said Ray. “Plainville’s bigs were doing a good job. [Bynum] went in there, he was backing Nate [Saucier] down a little bit. We went to Bynum, he knocked down a couple shots, got a few rebounds and that’s the name of the game.”

“There were loose balls that we weren’t getting. He cleaned up and we ended up getting those.”

Overall, Eastern hit 51-percent of its shots overall and 39-percent from long-range.

But Plainville, despite subpar shooting (32.7-percent), hung around over the first 18 minutes or so, out rebounded Eastern on the offensive glass by over half and committed just nine turnovers despite very aggressive offensive play.

Joseph Vasquez led the Blue Devils with 15 points, making seven clutch free throws, while Roman Lee added 14.

Brady Wieczorek scored four points but battled foul trouble while the big man tandem of Nijaz Srdanovic (eight points) and Saucier (six points) did a solid job keeping things close early.

“I credit their coach,” said Ray of Plainville’s Jeff Hoyt. “He’s done a great job throughout the course of the year. I’ve been there. He’s got them playing really hard.”

Dauphinais and D’Amato kicked in back-to-back threes early in the first period and off a lay-up by Sward – who got to the rim at will – at the first period horn, the Lancers secured a 15-12 edge through one.

Early in the second stanza, Plainville’s Jayden Castro hit a 3 and when Vasquez connected on a short jumper, the Blue Devils led 17-15 with 7:07 remaining before the half.

After an Eastern timeout, Dauphinais canned a hoop, Chisholm dropped in a three and on two free throws by Tate, the visiting aggression scored seven straight points to snare a 22-17 lead with 3:17 remaining in the second.

Plainville then scored seven straight points as Eastern’s long range game was foiled and with 1:45 left before intermission, the home team enjoyed a 24-22 push.

“The threes we were taking in the first half weren’t good threes,” said Ray. “They were off dribble, swing passes. The rhythm threes are the inside-out action. Those are the ones that matter.”

Sward hit late free throws and off one final Chisholm 3, Eastern netted a 27-24 lead at the break.

Closing the deficit to one, Plainville’s luck ran out to start the third tilt as D’Amato hit two threes and Bynum drained a couple jumpers – helping to post that 18-point third period effort – and the Lancers led 45-37 through three completed frames.

The Blue Devils cut the deficit to 47-38 with 7:20 left to play but Eastern closed the door on the game moments later.

A quick 10-5 run – with Tate opening and closing the burst with slick lay-ups – allowed Eastern to snatch a 55-41 edge with 4:26 remaining.

Sward quickly hit for three straight points and with 2:40 to go, Eastern stalled things a bit.

Plainville canned late free throws but could not put much of a dent in the final decision as Eastern won a huge 64-50 contest on the road.

“This league is difficult,” said Ray of the CCC. “If you look at [Plainville’s] scores, I saw how close the scores were, how much [they] were competing, and I warned my guys. I said, ‘we’re a long way away from that first game [that Plainville lost 54-24 back on December 15].’ And it showed.”

“But we are also better in terms of our maturity and what we need to do. I think that goes a long way for us.” 

Bristol Eastern Boys Basketball – CCC South Action

BRISTOL EASTERN 64, PLAINVILLE 50

from the Ivan Wood Gymnasium, Plainville

Bristol Eastern (9-8)    15 12 18 19 – 64

Plainville (4-13)        12 12 12 14 – 50

BRISTOL EASTERN (54): Nate Fries 0 0 0, Zaveyn Tate 6 4 16, Brayden Dauphinais 5 2 14, Lukas Sward 4 5 13, Ben D’Amato 4 0 11, Jordan Chisholm 2 0 16, Isaiah Lawrence-Bynum 2 0 4, Dante DePass 0 0 0, Brady Bell 0 0 0. Totals: 23 11 64.

PLAINVILLE (50): Roman Lee 4 2 14, Brady Wieczorek 2 0 4, Michael Bakaysa 0 0 0, Nijaz Srdanovic 3 2 8, Joseph Vasquez 4 7 15, Nate Saucier 3 0 6, Jayden Castro 1 0 3. Totals: 17 13 50.

Three-point goals: Dauphinais (BE) 2, D’Amato (BE) 3, Chisholm (BE) 2, Lee (P) 2, Castro (P).

Records: Bristol Eastern 9-8 overall; Plainville 4-13.