Hyppolite Stars in the Fourth to Lead Bridgewater-Raynham past Catholic Memorial

By: Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

West Roxbury, Mass. -- After a quiet first three quarters, Darrius Hyppolite left his mark in the final frame.

With No. 12 Bridgewater-Raynham trailing No. 5 Catholic Memorial, 50-47, and just under two minutes to play Hyppolite hit a walk-up three-pointer to even the score at 50.

Less than 30 seconds later, Hyppolite put the Trojans in front for good hitting a triple off the dribble as Bridgewater-Raynham knocked off Catholic Memorial, 62-55, on Wednesday night in the first round of the Division 1 South Tournament at Ronald Perry Memorial Gymnasium.

Hyppolite sat most of the first half with two fouls, but exploded for 12 points in the fourth quarter.

“Darrius (Hyppolite) has shown such growth,” said Bridgewater-Raynham coach Doug Alves. “I've really challenged him since he was a freshman and he’s come along and been a mentally tough kid. He’s become really dependable.”

Despite struggling from the field, including just 1-of-19 from three-point land, Catholic Memorial took a 42-37 lead going into the fourth.

The Knights then seemed on the verge of going on one of their storied runs as Flynn drove to the basket and finished through contact to put CM up eight.

BR, however, had an answer.

Tony Fernandes hit a short corner jumper, and Hyppolite hit a corner three-pointer to pull the Trojans within three, 45-42.

An Anthony Morales basket and two Will McDonnell free throws pushed CM's lead back up to five, 49-44, but thats when Hyppolite struck.

With the Trojans down 50-47, Hyppolite came through with a steal and connected on a pull-up three-pointer to even the score at 50.

An errant Knights three-pointer allowed BR a chance to go in front for the first time since the end of the first quarter.

Hyppolite made sure the Trojans took advantage, faking a drive into the middle before stepping back and rattling home a three-pointer that pushed BR in front 53-50 with less than 1:30 to play.

Two Connor Rubenskas free throws put BR up five, but a Flynn put-back got the Knights within one possession, 55-52, with 36.7 seconds left.

Hyppolite had one last burst as he broke the Knights press and laid it in plus the foul to give the Trojans an insurmountable five point edge.

“I just stayed locked in," said Hyppolite. "A lot of teams try to take me out of the game but I just stayed calm and confident in my shot. I kept telling myself, 'the next one is going to fall.'"

Defensively the Trojans were outstanding holding CM to just 2-of-27 from beyond the arc.

"That was all defense," said Alves. "They're too good of a shooting team for that not to be our defense."

The Trojans seemed more than willing to run up and down with the Knights, coming out in a full court trap of their own.

Fernandes scored four early points to help put BR up 16-14 after one.

Morales provided the Knights with a bit of spark to begin the second quarter scoring four straight as part of a 6-0 CM run that put them on top 20-16.

The Knights first half advantage got up to as many as five on consecutive baskets for Flynn, but a Fernandes foul line jumper trimmed CM’s lead to 28-25.

Kani Glover sent CM into the locker room on a high note as he finished at the rim as the buzzer sounded to put the Knights up 30-25 at the half.