\u00a0<\/p>\n
Senior forward Justin Kovacevich\u2019s layup in traffic got swatted with four seconds left as the Cougars fell to Trenton 59-57 before a raucous packed house of 2,000 fans.<\/p>\n
Top-seeded Montgomery clawed back from a 10-point deficit after three quarters, withstanding enormous ball pressure, to set up the decisive sequence. Inbounding under Trenton\u2019s basket with seven seconds left, point guard Chase Ta passed to Kovacevich, but as the 6-foot-5 standout went up in the paint Trenton\u2019s Kenar Gulley got his hand on the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the look we were going for,\u201d Montgomery coach Kris Grundy said. \u201cJustin sets the up screen and he knows if they hedge he\u2019s sliding right to the basket, which he did. We got him the ball on the block and it didn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was a rarity for the Cougars, who finished 27-2 due in part to a knack for pulling out close games.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone gave everything,\u201d Kovacevich said. \u201cWe played our hearts out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second-seeded Trenton (26-2) will face South Jersey champ Cherry Hill East in Thursday\u2019s Group IV semifinals. The Tornadoes seized momentum from the start, leading 14-8 after one quarter thanks to five steals and a 12-7 edge on the glass.<\/p>\n
After trailing 31-27 at halftime, Montgomery opened the third quarter with an 8-1 run to take a 35-32 lead. Trenton responded with a 15-2 surge to close out the frame and held a 47-37 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Tornadoes hit two 3-pointers during the spree and six on the game—a high total for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive them credit,\u201d Grundy said. \u201cThey average two threes a game. They hit shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
But with Grundy mixing up the defenses—at various times Montgomery played a sagging man, a matchup zone and a 1-3-1—the Cougars threw one last counterpunch. A layup by Ta and a foul shot by Kovacevich got them within two with 1:11 left.<\/p>\n
After Trenton big man Brandon George (13 points, nine rebounds) fouled out and guard Derrick Dix missed the front end of a one-and-one with 26 ticks left, Montgomery seemed poised to summon more of its late-game magic.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t meant to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted this game for my seniors and my kids—they\u2019re such a special group,\u201d Grundy said. \u201cI told them in the locker room, \u2018It hurts now but when you walk around that school tomorrow and people tell you that you had a great season, they\u2019re not blowing smoke. You had a great season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montgomery, which was seeking its second sectional title to go with the 2010 Central Group IV triumph, set a school record for wins and won the Skyland Conference\u2019s Raritan Division crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about wins,\u201d Kovacevich said. \u201cI loved been playing with these guys day-in and day-out. I\u2019m going to miss it so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior guard Naz McKoy scored 23 points to lead Trenton, which posted a 35-24 rebounding advantage<\/p>\n
For Montgomery, Ta led the way with 19 points, six steals and four rebounds. The junior handled Trenton\u2019s pressure superbly after the rocky first quarter. Kovacevich scored 13 points, fellow senior forward Greg Tarca netted 10, Tim Youreneff scored 11 and Darron Wallace added four points and seven boards.<\/p>\n
Along with Ridge, the Cougars were the last Skyland Conference team standing, something few outsiders predicted back in December.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one expected anything out of us going into the season,\u201d Ta said. \u201cI think we proved everyone wrong. That\u2019s a credit to our coaches, our players and everyone\u2019s hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n