BRIDGEWATER — In the first half, there was not much that set Bourne and Burke apart in their Division 4 state semifinal on Tuesday at Bridgewater-Raynham.
However, in the second half, Bourne's junior captains Mike Dankert and Nate Reynolds took control of the game and guided the team to a 71-60 victory in boys' basketball.
The second-seeded Canalmen (23-1) move on to the state title game for a rematch with Wareham after winning the regular season game.
Burke's season ends with a 19-5 record.
Bourne coach Scott Ashworth praised Dankert and Reynolds, saying, “Two really good players – the junior captains, they’re really not juniors. They’ve been playing for me since they got to high school.”
During the third quarter, Dankert scored 13 consecutive points before a teammate added another point. He ended with 23 points and 15 rebounds, helping Bourne take a 52-48 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Reynolds made significant contributions, scoring eight points. He finished with 14 points and overcame some bad luck in the first half.
“Nate had a tough time getting going,” Ashworth mentioned. “I said to him, ‘You don’t have to be great for 32 (minutes). We’re in a position now, be great for eight.’ ”
Senior player Leo Andrade also made a major impact, finishing with 26 points, including six successful three-pointers out of seven attempts. His nine points in the fourth quarter helped secure the win.
Dankert remarked, “If someone doesn’t step up, it could go either way. Someone had to do it.”
Burke put up a strong fight. Jaeshawn Rogers scored 15 points, Jaeden Roberts had 12, and Malik Adamson had 13.
The first half had a fast pace, and Burke led at the end of the first quarter with a 24-17 score. Roberts was the standout performer with six points, displaying skill in both his shooting and drives to the rim.
The teams were evenly matched in the second quarter, leading to a thrilling finish. Andrade hit two three-pointers, and Rogers scored on a drive, but Dankert’s putback as time expired gave Bourne a 34-33 lead at halftime.
Dankert had an outstanding third quarter, starting with a putback of his own missed shot, then going on an 8-0 run alone, including a 3-pointer from the left baseline.
He also scored a traditional three-point play, and Andrade added a three-pointer to give Bourne a 52-48 lead. Reynolds regained his form in the fourth quarter, scoring a close shot and putting back his own miss to give the Canalmen a 56-48 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Adamson attacked the rim effectively for Burke, but Bourne remained unfazed.
Bourne is now set to face off against its rival for the state title game. Ashworth is already anticipating the matchup.
“Forget records. Forget what happened in the regular season. It’s Bourne-Wareham,” Ashworth said. “It’s not just Bourne-Wareham, South Coast Conference. It’s Bourne-Wareham, the whole thing.”
