The Tompkins Cortland men's basketball team came within inches of pulling off the biggest upset in the program's history, coming up just short in a 53-51 lost to the #2-ranked team in the nation, Herkimer County Community College. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-2 while Herkimer, the four-time defending Region 3 champions, improves to 2-0.
The game was tight throughout, with neither team holding more than a two-possession lead. The lead changed sides six times in the first half, with the Panthers holding a 29-28 advantage at the break.
A pair of three-pointers by Brandon Tirado (Manhattan/Quest to Learn H.S.) helped push the lead to 38-33 early in the second half, but Herkimer responded with an 8-2 run to move ahead 41-40. The Generals extended the lead to 49-44 with just under four minutes left, their biggest lead of the game, but the Panthers wouldn't go away. A layup by Devonte Cheatham (Bronx/Herbert H. Lehman H.S.) and a pair of free throws by Tirado made the score 49-48 with 2:30 left on the clock. After a Herkimer free throw made it 50-48, Tirado nailed his fourth three-pointer of the game to put the Panthers up 51-50 with 1:04 left in the game.
Another Herkimer free throw ten seconds later tied the game for the fifth time, this time with just 55 seconds left in the game. Pressure from Herkimer kept the Panthers from getting a good shot off during the next possession. The forced shot as the shot clock wound down was wild, but it ended up being a huge offensive rebound by Deamontae Riley (Buffalo/Burgard H.S.). The Panthers weren't able to capitalize on the extra possession as Herkimer's pressure preventing a high-quality chance. This time the missed shot was rebounded by Herkimer with seven seconds left, and when the Generals tried to push the ball up the floor for a final shot, they were able to draw a foul with 3.7 seconds left on the clock. When the Herkimer player made both shots, the Panthers were left with one last chance. Tirado pushed the ball to midcourt and got off a shot at the buzzer. The shot hit the backboard and rim, but wouldn't go down, taking the Panthers upset hopes with it to the floor.
The Panthers were again very balanced in their scoring. Tirado led the way with 14 points followed by 10 from Cristian Rosa (Yonkers/Lincoln H.S.). Cheatham and Justin Sykes (Harlem/Lyons Community School) each had 8 points. Riley grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds while Rose led the team in assists with 5.
Looking ahead
The Panthers host Columbia-Greene Community College at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 11.