A “heartbreaking” Miss for the Lancaster Country Day in the basketball semi -final of class 1a in class 1a | Boys' basket

Jordan Ashby looked at the repetition of last year's game during school. He didn't know that it would happen again.

The same shot. The same opponent. The same result.

Ashby took a 3 pointer from the right wing, which had almost drawn the Lancaster Country Day against High Point with 1:25 in the fourth quarter.

“It looked good; It felt good, ”said Ashby. “It just rattled. In such a situation, it is heartbreaking. “

That was the moment for the Cougars. No. 2 Country Day fell on Tuesday evening on the maximum point 60-50 in the district-young basketball semi-finals of the district class 1A basketball.

High Point (15-6) celebrated in front of his bank by throwing Hershey's chocolate bars into the air. The Eagles deserves the right to kick in the final in the Giant Center on Friday at 2:45 p.m. against Shalom Christian No. 5

Ashby put his hands on his head in disbelief when his attempt could not fall through the net. The 5-11 junior was undoubtedly the video he had seen hours earlier.

The Country Day was set in a high point in the quarter -finals last February. Ashby has had another potential 3 pointer in the last seconds. This was too short. So also the Cougars.

When Ashby's shot is a quarter of inches in the right direction on Tuesday evening, it swings home. The game is bound at 52 and this will be a fight to the goal over the last 85 seconds. The Cougars wish they had the chance to live in this alternative reality.

“A Miss like that,” said Ashby, “I have the feeling that I would let my entire team, my coaches, all down.”

Two statistics showed up from these chaotic 32 minutes. A specified country day could impossible. One showed the same for the climax.

High Point had an advantage of 50-12 in rebounds. Three of them were team rebounds on balls that crashed out for the Country Day outside the borders. The Cougars only pulled nine boards down.

They say that rebounding is about desire. That's correct. It's also about size. The Country Day has no one bigger than 6-1 and often fought on the glass.

“I have the feeling that we have to keep our box-outs stronger and push the boys out,” said Ashby. “Sometimes we are too much under the basket and try to jump with bigger boys. We will never get these rebounds. “

How did the country day stay nearby? By forcing sales. High Point undertook 30 of them, including 26 in the first three quarters, and still prevailed.

The Country Day is able to make some dazzling moments. One of them came in the second quarter when the Cougars completed a 15-0 run within 2:13 to delete an 11-point deficit.

“When we got the lead and I looked at the clock, we had more than half the quarter,” said LCD coach Jon Shultz. “What the hell happened here?”

High point was probably the same. The Eagles were temporarily worried. They were forced to play faster than they wanted.

When it was most important, High Point was able to protect the ball well enough in the last few minutes.

“We wanted to increase this pressure,” said Shultz. “We got a little tired. They handled it a little better and were not so rattled in the second half. “

Cam Harris scored 19 points and Chris Dukes had 16 for the Cougars. Both had some eye openings near the edge.

The Country Day (15-9) will appear on Wednesday evening for No. 1 York Country Day in the third game. Then it goes in states. The Cougars reached the Piaa quarter -finals last season.

Ashby intended to see the repetition of this retirement. No matter how painful it may be for him.

“I won't forget that,” said Ashby. “It is my junior season. I only have a while to get to the huge center. “

If that happens, Ashby has to do what he did last February. Wait until next year.