One of the most successful seasons in school history came to an end Monday as the Harford Community College men's basketball team fell to Baltimore City in heart-breaking fashion, 81-80, in the NJCAA Region XX Championship in Hagerstown.
Baltimore City guard Brian Kelley made the game-winning layup for the Panthers with five seconds remaining in the game to down the Fighting Owls. Harford guard Brandon Spain went coast to coast on the ensuing play in an attempt to answer but was unable to finish at the rim – his layup came off the rim as time expired. It was an emotional finish to a hard-fought game as Baltimore City (19-11) moves on to the NJCAA District Finals while Harford (19-13) sees its season come to an end.
It was a game of ups and downs for both teams, especially in the second half as each team made runs that could have broken their opponent's will. Harford was down 12 points with just over 10 minutes left in the game. They erased that deficit and seemingly took control up until the final moments, forcing numerous turnovers with their full court press. Harford had led by five with just over a minute left in the game.
Spain had an off-game by his lofty standards as he was forced to sit with foul trouble for large segments of the game. He still managed to stuff the stat line with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. He averaged 21.4 points per game in Harford's five MD JUCO and Regional tournament games combined.
Exzavier Cooper continued to be a force in the paint for the Fighting Owls, scoring 23 points on eight-for-10 shooting from the field and seven-for-seven shooting from the free throw line. He also had five rebounds and two steals. Cooper and Spain were both named to the All-Regional Tournament team.
Jon Warren and Alie Kondeh (14 points) both scored in double figures for Harford. Warren finished the game with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards.
The loss is a bitter pill to swallow for first-year head coach Mike Smelkinson and his squad. They rode a 10-game win streak into the Region XX Championship game, winning the MD JUCO Tournament along the way, a program first. It will go down as a season to remember and hopefully serve as a benchmark for what is yet to come for the program under Smelkinson's direction.
Harford advanced to its first Region Final with an 86-74 victory over the host Hagerstown Hawks on Friday evening.
Women still alive
The Harford women's basketball team claimed its third-straight NJCAA Division I Region XX Championship by defeating Baltimore City, 69-59, on Thursday.
The Fighting Owls will host ASA in the NJCAA District C Championship Game at the APGFCU Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Fighting Owls are one win away from their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance.
In Thursday's win, things seemed to be going Baltimore City's way early, as the Panthers outmuscled Harford to a 20-11 lead midway through the first half. The Fighting Owls picked up their game and responded with a 19-9 spurt to take the lead for good at 30-29 with 1:56 left.
Harford finished the half scoring the final six points and then opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run to take a 42-29 lead. The Fighting Owl defense held BCCC scoreless for 7 minutes during which they went zero for five and turned the ball over five times. An 11-1 run put BCCC back in it late, but the Panthers would get no closer.
Ashley Smithnetted a team-high 16 points andAshley Hightowerrecorded another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.Mia FittsandJazmin Johnsonboth tallied 13 markers in the win andZana Godoyswished three big triples in the first-half run to get Harford back on track.