By Michael Letendre 

BRISTOL – What would rivalry night be without a down to the wire showdown between the Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern boys JV basketball teams?

On Monday night, both programs held late leads in the showdown.

But with 16 seconds left, the Lancers’ Donte DePass spun and drained the game-winning hoop as Eastern downed Central by a 42-41 final from the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium on the campus of BEHS.

Brett Bisson’s JV program at Eastern was able to hold off Joe DeFillippi’s grouping though both squads had a chance to take the contest.

DePass led the Lancers with 14 points, Owen Myers added 12 while Chase Dauphinee posted 11.

Central’s Harry Ross led all players with 16 points, Jaysun Dominguez nabbed nine while teammate Nate Ortiz dropped in eight.

Eastern led 13-6 through one period of play as DePass flipped in seven points over the tilt.

In the second stanza, Dauphinee (seven points) and Owens (six) notched all the points for the Lancers as the home team scooped up a 26-18 edge at intermission.

In the third quarter, Central struck right back to take the lead.

Dominguez, Ortiz and Ross combined for 17 third period points and through three completed frames, Eastern trailed 35-33.

Over an aggressive fourth frame, Central surged in front 39-35 with less than five minutes to play in regulation.

Eastern recaptured the lead moments later as Mikey Sherill found DePass for his only 3 of the game and when Dauphinee cashed in a hoop off a steal by Sherill, the Kingstreeters were ahead 40-39 with 3:13 to play.

Both teams traded misses before Ross, who misfired on two free throws with 1:38 left, made a quick steal for a lay-up to give Central a 41-40 lead just 14 seconds later.

The Rams had possession of the ball, calling timeout with 55.6 seconds remaining, but DePass made a slick steal, was later fouled but Eastern was not yet in the bonus.

From there, the Lancers were patient, worked the ball around, and DePass cashed in on his game-winner but Central took one last shot at it with 16 second left.

To end the game, Dominguez – hounded by Myers – eventually got the ball over to Quincy Lawson.

But Lawson’s 3 was short at the buzzer as Eastern came away with a huge one-point victory over its crosstown rival.

NOTES…In the freshmen game, Central got the best of Eastern by a 57-34 final. The Rams got 12 points from Jayden Glasper, Cody Roy added 11 while Quincy Lawson nabbed 10.

Bristol Boys JV Basketball – Bristol Central at Bristol Eastern  

BRISTOL EASTERN 42, BRISTOL CENTRAL 41  

from the Thomas M. Monahan Gymnasium, Bristol  

Bristol Central          6 12 17 6 – 41  

Bristol Eastern          13 13 7 9 – 42  

BRISTOL CENTRAL (41): Jaysun Dominguez 4 1 9, Gavin Chamberlin 1 0 2, Cody Roy 1 0 2, Nate Ortiz 3 0 8, Harry Ross 6 4 16, Dylan Brown 0 0 0, Jayden Sokolowski 1 0 2, Quincy Lawson 1 0 2. Totals: 17 5 41.  

BRISTOL EASTERN (42): Ben Kozikowski 0 0 0, Owen Myers 5 1 12, Brady Bell 1 0 3, Ethan Cockayne 0 0 0, Brayden Schenck 0 0 0, Dante DePass 5 3 14, Mikey Sherill 1 0 2, Xavier Kalanquin 0 0 0, Chase Dauphinee 3 4 11. Totals: 15 8 42.  

Three-point goals: Ortiz (BC) 2, Myers (BE), Bell (BE), DePass (BE), Dauphinee (BE).