Conard Boys Basketball Outlasts Hall in West Hartford Rivalry Game - We-Ha

Conard and Hall battled to the final seconds of the fourth quarter in an instant classic.

By Marlon Pitter, Photos by Ronni Newton

Max Boyd of Hall is guarded by Peter Simplicio. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School senior Casey Shane scored 17 points and made a game-clinching free throw for the Chieftains in the final seconds of the game to seal a hard-fought 58-54 victory over crosstown rival Hall at home in West Hartford on Tuesday night.

Leading by one, Conard turned a Hall turnover with 59 seconds left into a possession lasting 30 seconds, finished by a driving layup by Shane to take a 57-54 lead with 29 seconds left in the game.

Coming out of a timeout, the Warriors missed a three-point attempt with 12 seconds on the clock. The Chieftains gained control of the ball, and Shane was fouled with 5.6 seconds to play, setting up the winning free throw.

Conard improves to 4-5 with the win and extends its winning streak to three. Hall has now dropped four straight, falling to 1-8 on the season.

“In the past, in these tight games, we’ve made plays that end up hurting us,” said Conard head coach Jared Leghorn. “It’s like you see us learning to win right before our eyes.”

Hall trailed by as many as 10 points in the second quarter but trimmed the deficit to six on a last-second 3-pointer by Onyx Erazo, going to halftime down 36-30.

“That was a huge shot going into the half,” said Hall head coach Bryan Moretti. “We were down nine before that, so I thought that was, obviously, really big.”

The Warriors seemed to capitalize on the momentum from Erazo’s shot, as they went on a 7-0 run in first 3:11 of the third quarter to take a 37-36 lead, their first advantage since scoring the opening basket of the game.

Conard and Hall traded baskets in the third – resulting in four lead changes – until the Chieftains eventually pulled away to a 47-42 advantage to end the quarter.

The Warriors continued to press in the fourth quarter, scoring the first two baskets in the period to 47-46 with 6:18 to play.

Conard’s strong free throw shooting (24-of-28) helped the team pull away, as the Warriors put the Chieftains in the bonus with 4:18 left in the fourth quarter.

Max Boyd made a 3-pointer for Hall with under two minutes left to trim the deficit to 53-52. Boyd was fouled on a layup attempt but was assessed a technical foul after the play on the Warriors’ subsequent possession. The technical foul gave the Chieftains an immediate chance to answer his two made free throws, as Larry Womack Jr. sank his free throw to tie the game at 54-54 with 1:18 to play.

Hall guard Michael Hardwick committed a foul on the following inbounds pass, which put Conard in the double bonus with 1:17 on the clock. Ajaye Fair made one of two free throws to give the Chieftains a 55-54 lead they would not relinquish.

Fair and Josh Restrepo scored 10 and 11, respectively, to join Shane as three players to score in double figures for Conard. Boyd finished with a game-high 19 points for the Hall, while Erazo chipped in 16.

The Chieftains are slated to host Granby Memorial High School on Wednesday night, pending a weather cancellation. The Warriors will travel to RHAM on Thursday for their next contest.

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Hall’s Jack Del Coro with the ball, defended by Peter Simplicio. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Kachi Onoh of Hall takes a shot. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Casey Shane of Conard at the free throw line in the first half. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Ajaye Fair shoots a free throw. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

James DeCrisantis of Hall is defended by Daniel Manger of Conard. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard’s Ajaye Fair tries to push past Hall’s James DeCrisantis. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Hall’s cheering section, the Blue Reign. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Ajaye Fair with the ball. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Joshua Restrepo shoots a free throw. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Casey Shane. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard’s Red C. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Max Boyd with the ball, trailed by no. 35 Jack Del Coro and no. 15 Michael Hardwick. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Michael Hardwick shoots a free throw. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Daniel Manger of Conard tries to find a path through Hall’s Alex Dobbins (left) and James DeCrisantis. Conard vs. Hall boys basketball. Jan. 16, 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton