HHS Edged Out In C.J. Group III Opener

Tuesday night's Central Jersey Group III Tournament opener came down to the three-pointers Monmouth Regional High School made in the first 12 minutes and the ones didn't in the final 30 seconds.

The Monmouth Regional  boys basketball team made six three-pointers in the first 12 minutes to build an early lead. It then hung on to a 47-44 win as Hightstown missed on three three-point attempts at the end.

"It was crazy," Hightstown guard Ryan Borden said. "I don't even know (how many three-pointers we took at the end). Honestly, I was trying to get the ball there because I had a hot hand. I just didn't get a look."

Qwanza Harper put up two three-point shots and Cole Fusik tried another in the final 30 seconds.

"I thought one of them was going to go in," Harper said.

Hightstown was put in the position of needing a clutch three-pointer because Monmouth Regional made so many shots at the beginning of the game.

"We dug a hole for ourselves," Hightstown Coach Don Hess noted. "We were down 18-4 in our own building. You have to give them credit."

It was hard to defend because Monmouth Regional's Luke Cahill, D.J. Coles and RaQuan Gardner each made two three-pointers in the first 12 minutes.

In addition to being down 18-4 in the first quarter, Hightstown was also down 32-18 after Monmouth Regional's sixth three-pointer. That's when Hightstown started to apply more pressure on the shooters.

"Hess told us to play your man, get up in their face and they won't make it," Borden said.

Fed by its defense, Hightstown started to chip away at the lead in the final four minutes of the half. When Harper stole the ball and went in for a layup, Hightstown was down just 32-25 at the half.

Hightstown continued its surge in the second half. Two baskets by Sam Lopez (12 points) and one more by Harper (11 points) cut the deficit to 33-31 with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

Hightstown's defense continued to provide its offense with opportunities, but the Rams couldn't get the tie on its next three possessions. On its fourth possession, with a chance to tie or take the lead, a free throw by Lopez cut the deficit to 33-32 with 3:40 to play in the third quarter.

"I really did think we were going to finish the comeback," Hess said.

Hightstown's defense never let up in the second half, but Monmouth succeeded at a few difficult shots. Added to a bit of a cold streak for Hightstown from the field, Monmouth Regional was able to increase its lead to 46-36 with 3:37 left to play.

Harper made a three-pointer. Borden made a three-pointer. Fusik scored a layup off a steal. Suddenly, Hightstown was down just 47-44 with 1:26 to play.

"I thought we had this," Borden said.

With a minute to play, Harper got a steal, but Hightstown missed a pair of shots.

When Monmouth Regional's Luke Cahill missed the front end of a one-and-one, Hightstown had the ball back again, setting up for a tying shot in the final 30 seconds.

"Can't fault the kids at all," Hess said. "They played so hard to get back into the game. We just got down early and used up so much to get back into it."

Leaving Hightstown one elusive three-pointer short.