SPORTS

Chatham falls in North 2 Group III sectional final

Lauren Knego
inactive

COLONIA – The second-seeded Chatham boys basketball team fell to No. 1 Colonia 45-43 in the North 2 Group III sectional final on Tuesday.

Down 45-40 with 12.6 seconds left, senior guard Graham DeLaney hit a long 3-pointer to get within 45-43 and with 5.5 seconds remaining JJ Corbett went to the line and missed both free throws. But Chatham couldn't get anything going after inbounding the ball and time ran out on the Cougars and their season.

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"It was a great effort, I'm proud of the guys, they really played great together, this is a great group of kids," Chatham coach Todd Ervin said. "We missed a couple of things here or there but we had a chance at the end, they didn't quit, they played hard the whole game."

Chatham led 14-9 after the first quarter with 10 points coming from junior forward Colin McKenna. In the second quarter the Cougars were down 21-19 with 2:02 to play, but a basket from McKenna tied the game with 1:06 left for a 21-21 halftime score.

Both teams traded baskets to open the third quarter and with the game tied 23-23, McKenna connected on a three-point play to put Chatham ahead 26-23 with 5:55 left. A basket from Pat Naguib pulled Colonia to within one, 26-25, but a free throw from DeLaney made it a two-point game with 4:55 to go.

"It was similar to the Orange game, I knew they would be pressuring us, I didn't think it would be an issue," Ervin said. "I thought we handled it alright, I knew right away coming in was going to be a shock but otherwise I thought we handled it alright."

Jodrell Thompson tied the game 27-27 less than a minute later, but a 3-pointer from freshman guard Jack Rooney again put the Cougars ahead 30-27. Another bucket from Thompson got the Patriots within one with 3:26 left, but Chatham closed out the third quarter on another 3 from Rooney and a basket from McKenna for a 35-29 lead.

"I think we just kind of did what we wanted to do, I thought we played really good defense," Ervin said. "They banked a three I know, they hit another three I didn't think was a great shot. They're a good team, a good team playing at home, this is a tough place to win."

Colonia opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 36-25 lead with 6:27 left, and junior forward Stefan Goles put Chatham back in front 37-36 28 seconds later. A free throw from Corbett tied the game 37-37 and from there the Patriots scored four-straight points to take a 41-37 lead with 2:33 to play.

Two free throws from Rooney got Chatham to within 41-39 with 2:02 left, but a free throw from Chase Barneys made it a three-point game with 37.7 seconds left. DeLaney hit the second of two free throws less than 10 seconds later to cut Colonia's lead to 42-40, but three more free throws put the Patriots up 45-40.

"We fought to the end, unfortunately it didn't go our way," DeLaney said. "We definitely had the opportunity, we just couldn't capitalize at least this team is going to be prepared for next year. I have no doubt in my mind they're going to be back here and go further."

McKenna led the Cougars with a game-high 19 points. DeLaney and Rooney each chipped in nine points. For the Patriots, Thompson led with 15 points and Corbett scored 10 points.

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: 973-428-6674; lknego@gannett.com