The Old Rochester Regional High School boys basketball team pulled out a 64-61 win over Burke High School of Dorchester in the South Division 3 quarterfinal on Thursday, Feb. 27 after a nerve wracking contest.

The teams traded lead swings of 4 to 7 points throughout the game. ORR secured the win in the final minutes even though senior Paul Graves was benched to serve a one game suspension.

With four minutes on the clock, the score was tied at 54. With one minute left, ORR led 60-59. Leading scorer Haydon Bergeron then sank two crucial free throws with 17.2 seconds left in the game. With 5.3 seconds to go, Burke put a scare in ORR by sinking two free-throws to make it a one point 62-61 ORR lead. But when the buzzer went off, it was ORR on top.

ORR students past and present packed the gym’s “Dog Pound” and made the “Sixth Man” (a complimentary name for ORR’s famous loud crowd) louder than ever. Parents, coaches of other ORR teams, teachers, School Committee members, Superintendent Doug White and Principal Mike Devoll attended.

ORR led at the end of the first quarter 17-13, Burke led at the end of the second quarter 27-24 and at the end of the third quarter 48-44.

Coach Steve Carvalho said the team “deserves to move on” and played “tremendously” in terms of “style, energy and excitement.” His eagerness to have the opportunity to play in the semi-finals is “two-fold.”

The continuation of the boys season means that Graves will now get to play in a post-season game and finish his senior year in uniform.

The semifinals will feature ORR facing off against No. 4 seed Westport on Wednesday, March 5 in Taunton.