The Old Rochester varsity boys basketball team narrowly missed the South Coast Conference title this year, but that probably isn’t what anyone will remember from this season anyway.

In fact the most memorable moment from the season was breaking an 11-year losing streak against their Wareham High rivals. Unless you count the time head coach Steve Carvalho showed up to lead the team six hours after having his appendix removed, or the game where Ryan Simcoe came back from a season on the sidelines with multiple concussions to shoot a three-pointer.

And then there’s the “Sixth Man,” the epic cheering section that has gotten some of the credit for helping the team finish up its regular season at 16-4, compared to a crushing 6-14 last year.

“This season has been so special because it’s the same core players as last year, but we really turned things around in a big way. This is a group of kids who bought into our system and have played some exciting basketball," said Carvalho.

As preseason favorites to win the SCC, the pressure was on from the beginning.

The team got off to a rocky 3-2 start, but following a loss to Fairhaven High School, the Bulldogs rattled off six straight convincing wins.

By this time, the dreaded “Sixth Man,” aka the enthusiastic Old Rochester student section that showed up to all the home games, had made a name for itself. From heckling the other team, to cheering their hearts out for their peers on the basketball court, the players said they definitely got a boost from fellow students.

"My favorite memory from this year would have to be playing in front of the Sixth Man. Those guys are insane, easily the best crowd in the SCC," said junior Jordan Menard. “That is something I will never forget.”

Even more memorable was the team’s 63-55 win against Wareham, the first time anyone on the team, including Carvalho, had bested their rivals.

"It's amazing to be able to say that we are the team that ended their streak,” said Captain Jeremy Bare. “It kind of makes you think that kids are going to think back and say, 'oh yeah, that 2014 team – that was a really good team.’"

The next game brought another surprise when Carvalho, only six hours after having his appendix removed, showed up to coach the team, helping them to a comfortable 59-35 win over Fairhaven.

And on senior night against Seekonk, the Sixth Man could probably be heard all the way to the Rhode Island line as Ryan Simcoe, who was sidelined all season due to multiple concussions, finally got his chance on the court.

The plan was to let him play the opening minutes and try to stay out of the way. Clearly, Simcoe had no intention of doing that. In the first play of the game, he knocked down a deep three from the corner. The crowd went nuts.

Simcoe went on to add a defensive rebound and an assist to his stats, helping the team cruise to a 66-55 win on senior night over Seekonk.

Unfortunately for the team, however, an SCC title was not in its future. A heartbreaking loss to Case 58-62 took the Bulldogs out of the running and put them in second place behind Wareham.

Next up the team will make a run at the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3 South Section title. The team starts tournament play in two weeks.

Whatever happens in the last games, the seniors are leaving as legacies and good friends.

“I love playing with this team and it has made for a great senior season," said Paul Graves.