Manchester — For one night, the old days were a current event, a renewal of two programs from Connecticut high school basketball’s greatest conference.

It was No. 5 St. Bernard at No. 1 East Catholic, two schools once prominent in the All Connecticut Conference, an all-Catholic school production that spanned the entire state. St. Bernard, East, Xavier, South Catholic, Aquinas, Notre Dame, St, Joseph, Fairfield Prep, St. Paul and Northwest Catholic. Nightly jousts with future college players. Some of the state’s legendary coaches.

And the Saints discovered painfully Tuesday night that elite opponents require elite execution. Which did not happen. St. Bernard missed 14 free throws overall and its first eight field goal attempts, falling 68-60.

“Our effort and execution were off. Just not what they’ve been,” St. Bernard coach Mark Jones said. “That’s on me. It’s something we’ve got to figure out. In these big games, we need to be ready to go.”

The Saints have three losses this season. Two are to East Catholic.

“This was a high level game. They’ve got a good club,” East Catholic coach Luke Reilly said. “Our execution was good enough to win, but not enough to say we did it to full capacity.”

East led 9-0 early and 19-6 after one period, holding St. Bernard to one field goal in the first quarter. The Saints cut the lead to three in the second period, but never got closer.

“A lot of teams look different against them,” Jones said. “They force you to execute and play well. If you don't, you're going to lose.”

East hasn’t lost a game to an opponent from Connecticut since March of 2021 when the Eagles lost to Bristol Central in Donovan Clingan’s junior year.

Samson Reilly led the Eagles (14-1) with 21 points. Brayden Jones had 18 and former Norwich Free Academy guard J.J. Hay added 10.

Naz Rembert led the Saints with 17 and Amyre Gray had 13.

“Our bigs were awesome tonight,” Reilly said, alluding to Jones and teammate Josh Harris, who combined for 26 points. “This was a great team win.”

St. Bernard, meanwhile, prepares for the renewal of its rivalry with New London on Friday night.

“We’ve got to play better,” Jones said, “and everybody in this (locker) room knows it.”

m.dimauro@theday.com