By Ayoub Kourikchi, Globe Correspondent

If Apponequet still felt alive in the chase for the South Coast Conference boys' basketball regular season title, last-place Case ended those thoughts Saturday. Case beat visiting Apponequet, 69-67, to drop the Lakers three losses behind first-place and defending state champion Wareham.

James McDonnell, Case's 6-foot-9-inch senior center sprinted from one end of the court to block the potential tying shot after a steal and fast-break layup attempt from Apponequet with 12 seconds left in the game.

Apponequet rallied from a 34-34 halftime tie to take the lead by 7, only to see Case rebound to take a 44-43 lead at the end of three.

Senior guard Ben Monteiro powered Case (5-11, 2-10) with 7 third-quarter points that included a a 3-pointer a fast break lay-up off of a steal . He finished with 30 points on 6 of 13 shooting and 3-of-5 3-pointers. He was also 8 for 10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

“The end of the half we said we need to keep it up and match their intensity,” said Case coach Tim Plante. “If you can take the lead then it’s going to be a good game and it's going to be a big battle.”

Junior forward Andrew Kenyon finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore forward Matt Plante added 8 points. “We have been getting better and knocking them was a definite confidence booster because we have been on many sides on close games,” said Plante. “We all played 110 percent and gave it everything tonight.”