PARK SLOPE, BK-They might have come up just short in Friday’s heartbreaking 53-51 home finale against L.R.E.I. But for the five seniors who played their last Varsity hoops game for Berkeley Carroll at the Athletic Center in The Slope, there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Instead, they should hold their heads high in what amounted to an inspired second half comeback that left proud parents giving them a nice sendoff on Senior Day. In what’s been a trying season for the Lions who’ve been decimated by injuries, Coach Mike Kubera’s eight-man squad battled to the buzzer against another deeper opponent that just hung on for the win.

For much of the first half, it looked like the visitors from Manhattan were on the verge of blowing Berkeley Carroll out of the gym. However, plenty of leadership was shown from captain John O’Shaughnessy and his four senior teammates Sean Cunningham, Nate Barr, Walker Harrison and Paul Bendernagel, who all started. Each contributed on both ends of the floor as the Lions clawed back from a large double digit deficit to make it a game. While the veteran of the club O’Shaughnessy showed his usual scrappiness inside scoring and fighting for every rebound, Cunningham heated up in the second quarter, hitting a triple and netting seven of 18 to cut the deficit to 29-20.  But a couple of late three-point daggers stretched LREI’s lead back to 15 at the half.

At halftime, the Lions honored each senior with great words said by Kubera and his assistant on how much they’ve all meant to the program. The traditional flowers were presented to players and family members who stayed to take pictures. Plenty of Kodak memories that will last a lifetime.

Perhaps the longer than usual break helped because the guys wearing the home white and maroon jerseys came out on fire. Getting contributions from everyone including underclassmen Adam Kochman (5 Pts), Joe Martinez and Jesse Chalfin, BC quickly got the deficit into single digits.

Cunningham continued to score, finishing in transition and hitting from downtown. Both O’Shaughnessy who got into foul trouble- and Harrison did the grunt work, fighting for every loose ball. Each went over double digits on the glass, drawing plenty of fouls. The Lions played great defense, really closing the lane and limiting perimeter opportunities for LREI’s shooters who did most of their damage early.

With a few players on the road club foul plagued, momentum was with Berkeley Carroll. Even when a tough call (charge) went against a disappointed Barr in the final quarter, the Lions never gave up. L.R.E.I. never could put them away with Kubera’s bunch staying within striking distance. BC got plenty of second and third chances with everyone crashing the basket. Most came from Harrison and O’Shaughnessy, who was a beast in his final home quarter scoring 11 of his 18, including a big three-point play and a few from the charity stripe. Harrison- who returned to the court following two years off to concentrate on helping the Lions win a championship behind the plate- finished with five. Though he missed a few chippies, his effort was extraordinary, including a charge taken even if a bit of a break.

Kochman, who likely will be a full-time starter this Fall nailed a trey from the left corner drawing BC even closer. For most of the day, Barr couldn’t get untracked but continued to excel defensively coming up with steals as did the rest of his senior ‘mates. However, he finally got a jumper to go and added a free throw. Speaking of which, if there was one area the Lions could’ve done better at, it was at the line where some key misses hurt in crunch time.

Even when LREI seemed to have it put away up four with under 45 seconds left, the pesky Lions stayed alive thanks to a wild sequence that saw O’Shaughnessy finish cutting it to 53-51 with time to spare. They quickly fouled and got feint hope when a player missed a pair. But with under three ticks left, all Harrison who rebounded the ball could do was launch a desperation heave that didn’t hit its destined target.

When the buzzer sounded, those who supported the Lions from start to finish cheered the effort. Even if the final score said they lost, it didn’t feel like it. On Friday, there were only winners.

Notes: Cunningham and O’Shaughnessy combined for 36 of BC’s 51 points with Harrison (5), Barr (3) and Bendernagel (2) all on the scoresheet. … Due to last Wednesday’s blizzard that dumped over a foot of snow in the metro area, the game was a makeup.

… This Friday, the Lady Lions tilt versus L.R.E.I will be made up as well. They’ll also take on ACIS league rival Dwight Thursday in the first of a doubleheader featuring Coach Carmine Giovino’s JV hosting St. Ann’s in a possible playoff preview. … The Boys Varsity conclude their season the same day at St. Ann’s.