ORR defeats Hanover, heads to semifinals
The Bulldogs showed themselves to be a fierce opponent yet again on Saturday with a win against Hanover High School that sends them to the Division III South semifinals.
The Old Rochester Regional High School basketball team maintained a lead throughout the game, ending with 80-58 victory.
“Our defensive intensity and our rebound intensity has been our forte all year. I think we put together four quarters,” said Coach Steve Carvalho.
ORR, the No. 1 seed, and Hanover, the No. 9 seed, both scored in the first minute of the game, but the Bulldogs established their dominance early on.
Team captain Jordan Menard landed shot after shot along with the formidable Santos brothers, Evan and Will, and Ryan Beatty.
Cheered on by the Dog Pound, the team’s devoted student supporters, ORR ended the first half of the game 40-23.
Despite Hanover’s attempts and a few passes that feel too short, the Bulldogs kept at least a 10-point lead throughout the third quarter.
At the beginning of the final quarter, Menard had the crowd on its feet with a powerful two-point shot that brought the score to 68-48. Hanover pushed back, but couldn’t best the Bulldogs.
Hanover did have a moment of rejoicing with both sides cheering when senior Jack Buckley scored his 1,000th point in the final minute of the game.
After ORR's victory, Carvalho said the team spread its duties out well.
“We’re a true team. The kids are loyal. They trust each other,” he said.
Menard, the top scorer with 23 points, said ORR fought hard, knowing Hanover would be a challenge to beat.
“We knew they were going to be really good,” Menard said after the game. “We weren’t going to take them lightly.”
Other high scorers in the game were Will Santos, 14, Ryan Beatty, 12, and Evan Santos, 12.
ORR faces off against Wareham High Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Durfee High School in Fall River.
