Cougars battle back but lose 42-38 in AAC title game
2/14/24: After knocking off the home team and number one seed in the AAC semifinals on Monday, The Cottage School Cougars took on the Tapestry Charter School Titans for a right to the 2024 AAC crown. The Titans were the #1 seed last year and lost in this same game but tonight they fought in hopes to not repeat history. Tapestry Charter used their athleticism to take a fifteen-point lead in the third quarter, only to lose it, but finished Cottage off 42-38 to capture their first basketball championship in school history. It also gave them their second sport title this school year, winning their first AAC soccer championship in the fall.
With the score tied at 31 apiece, Andrew Dorsey converted on an inbounds pass from teammate, Weston Kershner on a well-executed play. The clock ticked under 3:40 as Cottage took their first lead since the first quarter, up 33-31. It was quickly erased on the next Titan possession. After the Cougars missed two free throws on their next possession, Tapestry then scored again off an offensive rebound to reclaim the lead, ahead 35-33. TCS had three straight defensive stops giving them four chances to tie and/or take the lead. Three missed shots and one turnover later, the Titans knocked down a corner three-pointer after the officials missed an obvious travel. Now Tapestry held a 38-33 edge with just a minute remaining. Cottage took a timeout and scored, then got a stop on defense. Needing a three, down 38-35 and just .21 seconds left, Cottage set up another nice play and had a clean look to tie it, but the iron was unkind to them all night and the ball rimmed out. TCS fouled and the Titans converted all but one free throw to end the game. The Cougars did get a three to drop before the buzzer sounded but it was too late, and the Cougars lost 42-38.
The Cougars came out confident and precise to start the contest, jumping ahead with a 9-4 lead before ending the period still ahead 9-8. The second stanza is where Tapestry took control. Cottage struggled to get the ball inside and the Titans were able to hit shots from three different players going up 22-11 just before the end of the first half. Just as it appeared the Titans would go into the half up comfortably, Kershner stole a pass and converted on an “and 1.”
He hit the tough layup and sank the free throw and now the game was close; 22-14 Tapestry.
Coach Briggs spoke at the half; “If we don’t get the ball inside, we will get blown out tonight wasting the hard work made to put us in this position. Patience and trust and we will have a chance.” Immediately fans could see the difference. Cottages’ first five shots were in the paint but to no avail, missing all of them. Tapestry converted on their end and with five minutes showing on the clock in the third period, the Titans held a 29-14 lead. Down fifteen points the Cougars were about to get blown out, however, they did exactly what their coaches asked, staying patient, and trusting they had time to get back in it. Their defense tightened up and all of a sudden a basket here, bucket there, over the course of the next eight minutes, TCS had just completed a 15-0 run tying the game 29-29 as the clocked showed 5:08 in the fourth.
Tapestry made their next shot to put an end to the run, and Cottage tied it again with a layup from Jack Kane to set up the final five minutes spoken above.
The Cougars finished the season at 13-13 overall but did make it to the championship game which was an improvement from last season. Even though they fell short of the title, they can hold their heads up high.
They gave up less offensive rebounds, less turnovers, and only three transition Titan breaks which was all better than the first two times they had played Tapestry during the season. They really had outplayed the champs but shot just 31% from the field.
Four of our Cougars will get to play in one more contest earning a right to play in the AAC All-Star game. Congratulations to Jackson Barnes, Dorsey, Kane, and Maxwell Lagan. They will tie the shoes up Saturday at MSA for the All-Star game and skills competitions.
Game Notes:
Andrew Dorsey did all he could to help his team win. He saved one of his career best games for last earning a double-double with a team high of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Weston Kershner had an excellent first half. He finished with 8 points and 5 assists.
Jackson Barnes had a rough night shooting the rock but still played hard. He added 8 boards, 4 assists, and 2 points.
Jack Kane put in 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Thanks to the six seniors. You will be missed and Suroy and I are so proud of your efforts over the years.
Colin Barlow, Gabriel Belden, Dorsey, Kane, Kershner, and Jack McGrew.