Montgomery gets defensive stops to beat Hillsborough in Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-1012412154634907267/boys-basketball-montgomery-gets-defensive-stops-to-beat-hillsborough-in-somerset-county-tournament-quarterfinals/

SKILLMAN — It was Montgomery point guard Chase Ta‘s offensive firepower that helped the Cougars take control againstHillsborough on Thursday night. But when the scoring stalled down the stretch, it was Montgomery’s defense that won the game.

Fourth-seeded Montgomery held fifth-seeded Hillsborough scoreless on back-to-back possessions in the final minute, with Ta getting a crucial steal on the first play and Alex Millergrabbing a rebound on the second one, as the Cougars topped the defending champion Raiders, 46-43, in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals at Montgomery High School.

Montgomery, which got 19 points, five rebounds and three assists from the Skidmore commit Ta, advances to the semifinals on Saturday where it will face top-seeded Ridge, ranked No. 14 in the NJ.com Top 20, in Skillman.

Ta came out firing and racked up 13 points by halftime, while Darron Wallace dominated in the paint on the way to a game-high 12 rebounds as well as three points. But Hillsborough’s Rob Askes led all scorers with 21 points to go with three rebounds and three steals, kept Hillsborough in the game with hot shooting of his own. 

The Cougars had a five-point lead at halftime and a four-point lead going into the final quarter. But Hillsborough made a run in the fourth quarter, with a three-point play from Jimmy Suseck tying the game at 39 with 6:20 left in the action, and a jump-shot from Mike Reilly giving the Raiders a lead, which eventually grew two three point after a pair of free throws from Askes to make it 43-40.

But that would be the last time Hillsborough scored. Two free throw from Ta make it a one-point game, and Hillsborough missed a pair shortly after that opened the door for the Skillman squad to take control. Matt Remsen sank a pair of free throws to grab the lead back for Montgomery with exactly one minute remaining.

A steal from Ta thwarted Hillsborough’s first attempt at a game-winner.  A jump-shot wouldn’t go on its next possession and Miller grabbed the rebound, and Montgomery had punched its ticket to the Somerset County Tournament semifinals for the second year in a row — a first for the program.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.