Eagles Head to State Championship Game Saturday

They know what people say.

“Boy, that St. John’s Prep basketball team can sure score.”

But the reason why the Eagles earned a trip to the state final in Worcester Saturday was their defense in a 64-55 win over Mansfield at the TD Garden Tuesday night.

“I don’t know why people think we are an up and down the court team,” said St. John’s head coach Sean Connolly. “We’ve been good defensively all year. People assume because we go and up down because we can score, but we don’t mind playing any tempo. Mansfield makes you play their tempo, because they are so good defensively. You have to give them credit. They’re tough, they defend and they rebound,” Connolly said.

The Prep only allowed the Hornets seven points in the first quarter.

“We have been a team that primarily struggles against the press,” said Mansfield High head coach Mike Vaughan. “Tonight was no exception.”

“I said I thought I thought their weakness was defense,” said Vaughan. “I guess I misspoke a little, because I didn’t mean they were weak on defense. I meant if they had a weakness that was that. A couple of guys came through the line and commented to me about my quotes in the paper. I wasn’t trying to disrespect or take anything away from St. John’s Prep. They deserve where they are at and why they were the preseason pick.”

Mansfield’s Jeff Hill's steal and layup with 5:21 left in the game got the Hornets to within one at 44-43, but the Eagles came right back with a basket by Steve Haladyna.

“He (Haladyna) won the game for us down the stretch,” said Connolly. “He hit some big shots. He always comes [through] big in big games and you expect him to do it.”

After that close call, St. John's Prep outscored the Hornets, 20-12, the rest of the way.

“It was kind of the story of the game," said Vaughan. "When we had them in situations that we could make plays, we missed shots. We needed to shoot well and play great defense. Well, we played great defense, but we didn't shoot well and the result was what it was.”

Mansfield was dealt a blow when Hill fouled out of the game with 3:47 remaining, taking most of the Hornets’ offensive effort to the bench with him. Hill was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the hoop. He finished the game as the Hornets' top scorer with 20 points and was also able to hold the Eagles’ Connaughton, who is headed to Notre Dame, to just 15 points, well below his per-game average.

“I played him a couple of times before, so I knew some of his fade-away in the paint moves and I just tried to take away that,” said Hill. “Coming off double screens, if he catches it, he's going to score. He’s a great player.”

With Connaughton hampered, the Eagles went to another weapon, Haladyna, who finished with 20 points, scoring 12 of them in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve been in a lot of these tough games, playing and ,” said Connolly. “Our kids know how to respond.”

Going into the fourth quarter, the Prep led Mansfield, 44-36. The Hornets were able to get within six to 41-35 after Hill scored on a drive and made the foul shot, but St. John’s answered with a 3-pointer by Conor Macomber to extend the lead to nine. And back at the half, St. John's Prep led, 31-22.

The Hornets fell behind by 14 points at 27-13 after the Eagles’ Fred Shove drove to the basket for two points. Mansfield, though, climbed back into the game, outscoring the Eagles, 9-3, in the last two minutes of the quarter to bring it to 29-22 until Drex Costello hit a jumper.

The Eagles started off the game with three 3-pointers, including two by Michael Carbone, on their way to building a 17-7 lead after the first quarter. Hill scored all of Mansfield's points in the first quarter.

St. John’s (24-1) advances to the state final Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester, while Mansfield finishes its season with a 24-3 overall record. The Eagles will play either Northhampton or St. John's of Shrewsbury. Those two teams are playing their semifinal match-up Wednesday night at the DCU Center.

“I say they have a good chance as anyone with their talent, their depth and (Pat) Connaughton’s ability to take over the game,” said Vaughan of the Eagles’ chances to win the state title.

Connaughton and his fellow seniors have one more game to play for the Eagles.

“We have [to] prepare this week like we never have before,” he said. “I’ve got what, four days left in my Saint John’s basketball career? We [have] to make it the best four days.”