Westminster High School, the host school for the annual Westminster Holiday Classic, was on the verge of its first win of the season when Aberdeen spoiled the show with a last-ditch basket for a 59-57 opening-round victory last night.
Aberdeen will meet Bullis Prep, of Potomac, for the championship tonight at 8. Bullis (10-1) advanced with a first-game 77-61 conquest of Milford Mill (3-2).
Larry Lowe, a relatively inexperienced senior, won it for Aberdeen with a 10-foot shot -- the last of his 21 points -- from along the baseline with 12 seconds left. It was the only lead of the night for the Harford County team.
The Owls (0-4) worked the ball up the floor and, against strong defensive pressure, Eric Moreau was able to get off a short off-balance shot. The ball caromed off the far rim and teammate Mark Loscomb got the rebound and tossed up a shot that hit the rim at the buzzer.
Aberdeen (3-2), which had come back from a 15-point deficit, got its first tie at 57 on two free throws by junior Gabriel Neal with 1:02 left.
From down 31-16 at the half, Aberdeen drew within 37-35 less than five minutes into the third quarter, but Westminster fought off this burst with an 8-2 run to take a 45-37 lead going into the final eight minutes.
Tommy Davis, a 5-7 senior guard, who finished with 17 points, took charge down the stretch, sinking two three-pointers and two foul shots, as Aberdeen climbed back to within 51-49. Moments later, Davis fed Neal for a basket and it was 57-55.
Junior forward Chad Brown led Westminster in scoring with 18.
In the first game Bullis erased Milford Mill's only lead (21-20) with a three-basket flurry within 36 seconds midway of the second quarter.
This turned out to be the catalyst for a 16-6 run, punctuated by a series of Milford Mill turnovers.