It wasn’t Harbor’s hot free throw shooting, nor Mitch Postie’s rebounding prowess that doomed the Cougars, though all played factors in Harbor’s 62-51 win Saturday.
The Cougars season ended at the Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals with a broken clipboard.
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He pounded the clipboard hard enough that the clipboard split.
“I still thought we had a chance at the game,” Parsons said.
But the Pirates made one final run, the 9-0 run, putting the Cougars away.
The Cougars led for most of the first half and most of the third quarter. But the 13-0 run by the Pirates late in the third quarter gave them a 44-39 lead.
Power drained a three and Alex Reis had a runner to end the run. But the Pirates got one last basket to lead by two going into the final quarter.
“The third quarter has been the worst quarter for us this year,” said Brandon Bozarth. “Their big man (Postie) just controlled us.”
Harbor also took Agustin Arroyo out of the game. He was limited to just four points in the second half after erupting for 17 in the first half.
“The kids just battled and battled,” Parsons said. “We just couldn’t get over the hump.”
The Cougars had the upper hand in their opening round game, holding off Oceana, 46-43.
The Sharks rallied to within two. Arild Geugjes stole an inbound pass in the Half Moon Bay backcourt with 10 seconds left and was driving to the basket. He put the ball up, preparing for a layup.
Bozarth, who threw the inbound pass, came to the rescue, knocking the ball away.
“They switched their screens, and no one was open,” Bozarth said. “I didn’t know (Geugjes) was there.”
After knocking the ball away, Bozarth was able to retrieve the ball. He got fouled, and sank a free throw with seven seconds left.
Oceana quickly got the ball down court and was set to take a three-point shot. The shot was taken moments after the buzzer went off, negating the shot, which went through the hoop.
“A win is a win,” Bozarth said.
The win set the stage for the game with Harbor, held at Hartnell College in Salinas.
“It was a fun game to watch, thanks to all the runs,” Parsons said. “But it was a little nerve wracking as a coach.”
When the game ended, there was nothing more Half Moon Bay (18-11) could do than pack up everything, including the broken clipboard.
“We surpassed the expectations of everyone,” Parsons said. “I told the kids last year they had the chance to do something special. I feel the program is in a very good spot now.”
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