Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central battled each other for the full 32 minutes of Monday night’s showdown on King Street, and the Lancers ended up one point better in a game that literally came down to the final second, a 52-51 victory over the Rams.

Both teams battled foul trouble throughout the contest, as the referees whistled numerous fouls on key players from the opening tap to the final buzzer.

Eastern star Autumn Udoh was called for her third foul with five minutes remaining in the second period. She was forced to watch from the bench for the remainder of the first half, as an early ten point lead for the Lancers disappeared and the teams went into halftime with Eastern leading by a single point, 29-28.

Her counterpart from Bristol Central, Nicole Reimer, had only one foul in the opening half, but accumulated four more in the second, fouling out with two minutes remaining in the game. Her disqualification was a real blow to the Rams, as she was their leading scorer with 21 points and was forced to watch the final minute from the Rams’ bench.

An amazing 41 fouls were called in the game, with nine players accumulating three or more. Coaches Tony Floyd of BE and Steve Gaudet of BC were forced to mix and match line-ups throughout, as one player after another got into foul trouble.

Bristol Eastern was led in scoring by Udoh with 22 points, and Vanessa Drury added 15 to the cause.

Riemer was the only Central player in double figures with her 21 points for the Rams. Arianna Rivera and Leilani Jackson each chipped in with eight. Rivera had a potential game-winner go half way down and bounce out with three seconds remaining in the game.

Eastern finishes the regular season with a 15-5 record. They will host Rocky Hill in the opening round of the CCC Tournament on Thursday night at 6:00.

Central finishes at 10-10 and awaits their pairing for the CIAC Tournament, which begins the week of Feb. 26.

BRISTOL  EASTERN    52           BRISTOL  CENTRAL   51

BRISTOL CENTRAL (10-10):  Laylani Cespedes  1  0  2,  Olivia Louis 0  0  0, Leilani Jackson  3  2  8,  Molly McMahon 1  0  3,  Brooke Watson  1  0  3,  Arianna Rivera  2  4  8,  Julia Pikiell  2  0  6,  Nicole Riemer 6  9  21.     Totals:   16   15   51.

BRISTOL  EASTERN  (15-5):   Vanessa Drury  2   10   15, Cassie Sward 0  0  0,   Leah Roy  2  0  5,  Amanda Noel  1  3  5,  Lauren Ayotte  1  0  2,  Savannah  Drury  1  1  3,  Autumn  Udoh  9   4   22.  Totals:  16   18   52.

Bristol  Central:   11    17    12    11   – – – –    51                                                                               
Bristol Eastern:  18    11    11     12  – – – –   52