Montville — Fittingly, here on this campus for Catholic culture, came an almost biblical storyline for the biggest basketball game of the season.

The Good Book suggests that to whom much is given, much is required. It's quite evident to St. Bernard, whose talent levels mirrors its ascent into a tougher state playoff division, evidenced by the arrival of time-honored Connecticut contender Bassick  — the five-time state finalist and two-time state champion — in Monday's CIAC Division III quarterfinals.

And the Saints responded not merely with their best win in recent memory, but perhaps one of the best in program history, needing overtime to prevail 85-84.

No. 2 St. Bernard (20-4) will play No. 3 Hand in the CIAC Div. III semifinals Wednesday night at a site and time to be determined.

Tyson Wheeler made a free throw with 25.4 seconds left snapping an 84-84 tie. St. Bernard's defense held Bassick without a shot in the closing seconds, touching off a delirious celebration  whose echoes will be heard at Powers Gym long into the offseason.

"I'm at a loss for words, honestly," St. Bernard coach Mark Jones said. "I'm so proud of these kids. They never gave up."

The Saints had a 63-51 lead midway through the fourth period, but coughed and wheezed to the finish, needing a left-handed layup from freshman Devan Williams with two seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

"We had new energy going to overtime," Jones said. "Give Bassick credit. They're a really good team."

In overtime, St. Bernard freshman Amyre Gray illustrated why GameDay play-by-play voice Casey O'Neill referred to him as "No Fear Amyre" at moments during the webcast. Gray scored the last of his career-high 32 points, a three from the corner that gave the Saints an 84-82 lead. It lasted for all of five seconds, answered quickly by Tyrese Hammonds' layup, tying it at 84.

Wheeler was fouled just as he advanced the ball over the midcourt line and likely made the biggest free throw of his life, giving the Saints the lead for good.

Josh Santiago led Bassick with 31 points, 21 of which came in the first half. Williams, in addition to scoring 16 points, defended him doggedly in the second half.

"If he didn't touch the ball, their offense wasn't there," Williams said.

Hammonds had 17, while Eric Upchurch-Rudd and Jakari Tertulien had 17 apiece for Bassick (17-6).

Cedrick Similien has 18 points and Wheeler 13 for the Saints, who looked drastically different than two weeks ago during a dreary loss to Waterford in the conference tournament semifinals.

"I got on them after that game about their energy," Jones said. "We went back to doing some things we were doing at the beginning of the year."

And the now the year rolls on into the state semifinals.

m.dimauro@theday.com

St. Bernard Bassick CIAC boys basketball photo gallery

For more photos from the St. Bernard Bassick CIAC boys basketball game click here.