Harding teammates mob Zamir Hairston (at left, center) after his buzzer-beating putback to force overtime with Bassick in the CSC Semifinals Tuesday night.
Harding and Bassick were at it again in the CSC Semifinals Tuesday night on the East End of Bridgeport.
Just days after the city rivals duked it out in an eventual 118-112 Bassick victory in overtime, they picked up right where they left off when they clashed in their first Constitution State Conference semifinals Tuesday night.
CSC Boys Basketball Tournament Scoreboard
This encounter, played Harding this time, was just a little less wacky, but no less of a barnburner. Bassick led 47-42 at halftime and 64-49 after three quarters. But Harding kept coming back and, despite losing Taisun Phommachanh to foul trouble late, roared back to take several small leads and was up 85-84 with under 16 seconds remaining.
Bassick went ahead 87-85, however, on a 3-pointer by Davonte Whitehurst with 7.7 remaining, setting up this wild finale.
Harding’s Zack Stewart drove in uncontested on a break. His shot bounded off the rim, but teammate Zamir Hairston was there for the easy putback to tie the game at 85 and send it to overtime amid Bedlam at Miska Gymnasium (aka White House).
Here’s how the final bucket of regulation went down, from New Haven Register reporter and noted Bassick graduate Juliemar Ortiz:
???? Another OT for Bassick vs Harding #ctbb pic.twitter.com/IdpDkSCikd
— Juliemar Ortiz (@JuliemarOrtiz) March 2, 2016
Here’s a look at the final play from the floor by Connecticut Post’s Doug Bonjour:
Going to OT. Again. 87-87 #ctbb pic.twitter.com/gmxJKUOpUH
— Doug Bonjour (@DougBonjour) March 2, 2016
Harding got the better of play in overtime and held a 105-102 lead with just enough time for Bassick to try a desperation 3-pointer. It fell short:
Harding wins 105-102 pic.twitter.com/mXYv7Xpuxg
— Juliemar Ortiz (@JuliemarOrtiz) March 2, 2016
T.J. Pettway led the Presidents with 26 points as Harding advanced to the CSC Championship game — ironically at Bassick — where it will face Abbott Tech on Thursday at 5 p.m.
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