Solid foul shooting down the stretch — including an extra opportunity when Maryvale coach Mark Kensy was whistled for a technical foul with 33.1 seconds to play in regulation — helped East Aurora’s boys basketball team escape from Friday’s key ECIC Division III battle with a 64-57 victory.

Chris Bourne was 5-of-5 from the charity stripe in the last three minutes of regulation for the Blue Devils, who led just 57-54 with 1:20 to play in regulation. His efficiency at the line, coupled with Cam Wier’s timely three-point baskets in the final three minutes of regulation, helped East Aurora escape with the key victory.

“East Aurora is the top team in our division, and we were right there with them,” Kensy said. “But, I took away a possession of ours arguing a basket of theirs that I felt came on a travel, which is something I should not have done. I guess the refs had had enough of me.”

The Flyers battled back from a 15-12 first-quarter deficit to take a 28-26 lead at the half, but East Aurora kept at it and fought hard to take a four-point lead (45-41) into the final frame. Maryvale, which had been holding voluntary shooting sessions before school over the past two weeks, kept itself in the game with an improved performance from the charity stripe (18-of-28), but an inability to make close-range shots ultimately hurt the Flyers’ chances at the upset.

“We were playing really well after getting off to a rough start — we were moving the ball well and had great patience on offense — but there were times where we just couldn’t finish,” Kensy said. “We must have missed about 14 shots from eight feet and in, with seven of those in the fourth quarter alone. We still played well enough to win; we played good defense — we held their one kid who was averaging 20 points to just one point, and we did a decent job on Stan Wier too — and I felt good about our game plan, but our shooting really hurt our chances.”

Maryvale was led by what Kensy called “the biggest game” of Sean Weisansal’s career, an effort that saw him finish with 27 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Ed Smith added 11 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Demetri McCallie contributed 10 points and four rebounds.

The Flyers (4-8, 3-4 league) returned to action Tuesday against West Seneca East, but information about that non-league game was not available at press time. Maryvale closes out its week at crosstown rival Cheektowaga on Friday.

“Cheektowaga should be a very entertaining game,” Kensy said. “We’re going to prepare for them just as we would for anyone else. We’re still learning how to play with each other, and our hope is that we’re at the top of our game right as we enter the playoffs. Our offense is coming and we continue to play good defense, and we’re also hustling. I wouldn’t trade good defensive play or hustle for anything.”

email: jnadolinski@beenews.com