Paul VI wins on Curry jumper

Ron Curry was waiting for this moment - tie score, huge crowd, final seconds of another pitched battle with an archrival.

Curry made the most of the pressure situation, rising up and burying a 12-foot jumper off the move with three seconds to play to lift Paul VI to a 62-60 victory over Bishop Eustace on Tuesday night before a capacity-plus crowd in the Eagles gymnasium.

"I've been dreaming about this," Curry said. "For something like this to happen in a big-time game like this, it's the best feeling in the world."

Curry's winning shot set off a wild scene. Hundreds of white-shirted Paul VI fans raced on the court and down under the opposing basket, joining Curry and senior guard Kris O'Connor in yelling in celebration at Bishop Eustace's student section.

It was an emotional game with dramatic swings of momentum, as Paul VI (10-1, 4-0 Olympic National) built a 45-26 lead early in third quarter before Bishop Eustace (9-2, 3-1) rallied to take a 59-58 lead on a three-point jumper by senior guard Carson Puriefoy with 1 minute, 3 seconds to play.

Puriefoy, who has signed with Stony Brook, scored 25 and senior forward Sho DaSilva added 15 points, five rebounds, and three blocks for Bishop Eustace, the No. 2 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings.

"It was a great high school basketball game," Bishop Eustace coach Bob Falconiero said. "I was proud of the way we came back, but we've got to play 32 minutes."

Curry, who has signed with James Madison, scored 12 with four steals and four assists, and O'Connor added 20 points and five steals for No. 3 Paul VI.

"It lived up to the hype," Paul VI coach Tony Devlin said of the game.

The teams will meet again in Olympic National play in February and could meet for the third time in the South A tournament in March. But they will have a hard time topping the final four minutes of this game, as the teams traded baskets before a roaring crowd.

Curry and O'Connor fueled a full-court trapping defense that forced numerous Bishop Eustace turnovers and sparked Paul VI to its big lead. O'Connor also made four three-point jumpers.

Puriefoy and DaSilva led a furious Eustace rally, which also was powered by a trapping, full-court press.

Puriefoy, who was 9 for 10 from the foul line, made 1 of 2 with 0:24 on the clock to tie the score at 60.

In the game's final moments, Curry controlled the basketball near halfcourt with Puriefoy on defense - South Jersey's top two point guards in a one-on-one battle with the game on the line.

The 6-foot-3 Curry drove to the right elbow and rose up for a shot over the 6-foot Puriefoy. The basketball hit nothing but net.

Bishop Eustace   15 9 18 18 – 60

Paul VI   23 11 16 12 – 62

BE: Carson Puriefoy 25, Trevor Norton 9, Sho DaSilva 15, Dexter Harris 2, Ry'n Bland 7, Scott Hyland 2.

PVI: Ron Curry 12, Kris O'Connor 20, Roosevelt Cubbage 9, Matt Risse 8, Jay Howard 11, Sameen Swint 2.