Basketball Recap: Rank Disadvantage No Problem for Bishop O'connell

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Previous Games

02/28/25 - Neutral	59-57 W
02/08/25 - Home	41-52 L
02/25/24 - Neutral	44-65 L
01/26/24 - Home	52-68 L
02/14/23 - Home	73-101 L
+ 5 more games

Bishop O'Connell had already proven themselves in the regular season and they didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Paul VI Panthers on Friday, sneaking past 59-57. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Knights' disadvantage in MaxPreps' national basketball rankings (they are ranked 69th, while the Panthers are ranked 12th).

Bishop O'Connell's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Darius Bivins, who shot 44% from the field en route to 15 points and five rebounds. Another player making a difference was Matt Dalton, who posted 13 points and eight boards.

The victory made it two in a row for Bishop O'Connell and bumps their season record up to 23-9. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of two points across that stretch. As for Paul VI, they moved to 27-6 with that defeat, which also ended their 11-game winning streak.

Looking ahead, Bishop O'Connell will take on Highland at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Highland knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past 21 matchups -- so hopefully Bishop O'Connell likes a good challenge. Paul VI does not have any more games scheduled as of now.