Butler, Mourao go berserk as Old Rochester boys basketball punches state-title spot
WORCESTER — John Butler remembers how it felt when Old Rochester lost to St. Mary's of Lynn in the Div. 3 state semifinals a year ago.
The ORR senior didn’t want to feel that way again.
Neither did junior teammate Zack Mourao.
The pair combined for 53 points to power the No. 2 Bulldogs to a thrilling 82-72 victory over third-seeded Pittsfield on Monday night in the Div. 3 state semifinals at Worcester State University.
“It feels great,” said Butler, who finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. “Last year this (round) is where we lost. It was a terrible feeling, but I’m so excited to be back and with a different result. Hopefully we can bring it home.”
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Mourao set the tone, scoring 10 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter to help the Bulldogs earn their first trip to a state final since 2015 when they beat Hoosac 61-47.
“My teammates found me and we came out with a lot of energy so that was huge for us,” said Mourao, who tied his career high with 27 points.
Mourao connected on five 3-pointers, including three in the second half as the Bulldogs led by as much as 22 points.
“He doesn’t need a lot of separation and he doesn’t need a lot of space. It’s catch and shoot,” said Old Rochester head coach Steve Carvalho. “He takes the right shots. He’s a legit sniper out there and I’m really proud of him.”
In his first regular season as a starter, Mourao led the Bulldogs in 3-pointers made with 49. He also averaged 14.5 points per game, second on the team only to Butler (16.4 PPG).
“Last year I was getting limited minutes so I knew I had to work hard this offseason,” said Mourao, noting that he played pickup games at the YMCA and offseason AAU basketball.
Carvalho said that Mourao has developed into a complete player.
“He knows how to play basketball,” he said. “He understands the game and he understands spacing. A lot of people forget he plays great defense and he can handle the ball too.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Old Rochester went on a 14-7 run in the first quarter to jump ahead by 10 (23-13) thanks to 10 points by Mourao, who knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and had two other baskets in the game’s first eight minutes.
After ORR took its biggest lead of the first half on a pair of free throws from Mourao, Pittsfield responded with a 11-4 run, capped off by a pair of 3-pointers from Parick Brennan and a 3-point play from Malachi Perry, to pull within 31-26 with 1:26 left in the quarter.
Old Rochester scored the first six points of the third quarter and led by 18 entering the fourth.
After back-to-back 3-pointers from Butler, Mourao drained a trey to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the night at 71-49.
“We came out with our pace and we played our pace the whole game and I think that really helped,” Butler said.
Pittsfield put together a 17-7 run to close within 12 (78-66) with 1:29 to play, but ORR came back with a free throw from junior Gavin Martin and an offensive rebound and putback from senior Chase Besancon to extend the lead to 15.
“It feels great,” Carvalho said. “We put in the work and the hours. It’s always about the kids and we look forward to playing the winner of Charlestown and Taconic, two very good teams.”
WHAT IT MEANS
With their 13th straight win, the Bulldogs (21-4) advanced to their first state final appearance in nine years. They’ll face the winner of Wednesday night’s state semifinal between No. 1 Charlestown (21-2) and No. 4 Taconic (17-6) at the Tsongas Center in Lowell at a date and time to be determined. … The loss ended a 13-game win streak for Pittsfield, which finished the year with an overall record of 19-6.
BIG ON THE BOARDS
Besancon led ORR with 12 rebounds while Butler had 11 and senior Rob Spenard added seven. Martin chipped in with five rebounds and seven assists.
“I told them from day one that rebounding dictates a lot in the game of basketball. That’s always our main priority,” Carvalho said. “There’s a little old school feel to them. I know the game has changed and I’ve changed with it, but when you go 6-5, 6-3, 6-3, you try to get the ball inside.”
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TEAM STATS
Old Rochester shot 50% (30 of 60) from the field and 66% (14 of 21) from the foul line with 13 turnovers. … Pittsfield shot 45% (28 of 60) from the field and 38% (8 of 21) from the foul line with 10 turnovers.
Old Rochester 82, Pittsfield 72
Pittsfield
Makai Shepardson 17 (2), Da’Sean Brown 13 (3), Malachi Perry 21, Marcello Arienti 2, Parick Brennan 9 (3), Prosper Ezan 2, Kyle Cardoso 6, Bri’Awn Thompson 2.
Old Rochester
Zack Mourao 27 (5), Chase Besancon 17, John Butler 26 (3), Robert Spenard 2, Gavin Martin 8, Finn Kavenaugh 2.
Pittsfield;15;13;14;30 — 72
Old Rochester;25;11;24;22 — 82
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Old Rochester boys basketball defeats St. Mary's in state semifinals
