Cougars upset #1 seed Mustangs 36-34
2/12/24: The Cottage School Cougars travelled to Mill Springs Academy for the semi-finals of the 2024 AAC basketball playoffs. They came in the #4 seed at 8-4 and drew the #1 seed and home team, MSA Mustangs (9-3). These two split the season series but the Mustangs have won seven of their past eight conference games while the Cougars have gone 3-3 over their past six, losing all three in the final few minutes having leads. MSA also has two of the top three individual players in the league. #23-Hampton Hill and #5-Ryan Frommer are both averaging over 20+ per game. As a matter of fact, in the past two games each have had games of 38 points and 32 points. To compare that to TCS, nobody has scored more than 19 points in one game and their leading scorer is Maxwell Lagan at just over 11 points per game. That said, Cottage must bring their stout defense, which statistically is the best in the league, if not proven to be the strongest defensive team of anyone on their schedule. With no question this contest will need to be a low scoring affair for the Cougars to have a fighting chance.
As stated above, the Cottage defense was relentless all night. The Mustangs looked confused on every possession and Hill and Frommer had only one open look all game (and made it). MSA was held to just 34 points as the Cougars nipped and clawed their way to a comeback 36-33 victory.
The contest reached over three minutes left in the fourth frame and the Mustangs just closed out an 8-0 run to take a 32-28 advantage. #23-Hill just connected on his only 3-pointer of the night (usually hits between 3 to 7 per game) and Coach Richie Briggs of TCS called a timeout. “We must fake ball side and reverse it and only make the simple open pass taking the most open shot. No need to force either. When we score here, we will be right there to finish.” The Cougars did exactly that and were fouled. After a made free throw, a forced MSA turnover, and another two TCS found themselves down just 31-32 with 2:40 left in regulation. Another Cottage stop gave them possession. Cottage worked the ball into senior Colin Barlow. He turned and hit a huge baby hook (he has worked on tirelessly all season) to reclaim the lead 33-32.
The Mustangs got fouled on an offensive rebound and tied the game at 33 a piece with under two minutes left.
Once again, the Cougars were patient and executed brilliantly. After moving the ball right to left and back around, they found Lagan posted up on the left-side block and fed him. He caught the ball, turned to his right, and sank a Dirk-esc (what made NBA HOF’er Dirk Nowiski famous) 10-foot jumper for a 35-33 edge.
Another defensive shutdown and with under a minute remaining, Barlow was fouled again, this time on a fast break. He hit one of two from the charity stripe for a three-point cushion,
36-33. The Cougar defense rebounded a missed shot and held the ball under six seconds but while moving it around, let a pass slip through their hands on the sideline with 5.6 seconds remaining. Now the Mustangs had one last gasp. Lagan and Weston Kershner double-teamed #23-Hill and he lost the handle of the dribble just right of the top of the key. As he attempted to pick up the ball, facing the opposite direction of his basket, he quickly acted as if he was throwing up a behind the back-over the head shot and for some reason the official gave him a shooting foul as Kershner stole the ball at the buzzer. Hill went to the line and sank the first. He hit the front-end of the second and now had to miss on purpose and hope for his team to gather the offensive rebound tip to tie the game with just .1 seconds remaining. He threw the ball off the back of the rim, but charged the intentional misfire early and was called for a lane violation. The Cougars inbounded the ball, the buzzer sounded, and Cottage pulled off the unexpected upset, 36-34. They jumped with joy as the Alumni Cougar Crazies about stormed the court!
The Cougar defense held the mighty Mustang offense to just five points in the first and third periods, but Cottage also struggled to score so by the end of the third stanza, TCS held a slim 28-24 edge.
#5-Frommer was held to just six points for the game and #23-Hill was shy of ten points below his average with 17.
The #4 seed Cougars (9-4) will now go back to Mill Springs on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM to take on the #3 seeded Titans of Tapestry Charter (9-4). Tapestry upset their nemesis, #2 seed Howard Hawks 57-54 to advance to the 2024 boys final. The Cougars and Titans also split the season series and will face each other in what should be an exciting championship match. Tapestry only lost one game last year in the league and made it to the final but lost in an upset to the #3 seeded Howard Hawks. The Lady Cougars also won so pack the MSA gymnasium at 6:00 P.M. to come support both TCS teams. The girls are going for their fourth championship in a row.
Game Notes:
In the absence of senior center leader, Jack Kane (illness)…Maxwell Lagan and Colin Barlow held down the fort! Lagan finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, & 2 blocks. Barlow added 10 points, 9 boards, and that clutch baby hook and FT to help ice the game!
Andrew Dorsey provided much needed early baskets giving his team the lead. He added 8 points and 3 assists.
Weston Kershner, Davis Bradley, Gabriel Belden, and Dorsey all had the tough task of containing #23-Hill and #6-Frommer for MSA, holding that dynamic duo to well below their combined average.