Haggerty, Cougars surprise Hurricanes
Hightower qualified for state last year but didn’t get to play after the University Interscholastic League canceled the tournament in a heart-breaking decision forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crosby wasn’t sympathetic.
Instead, the unranked Cougars — who Hightower ousted last year — made sure the No. 3 Hurricanes didn’t get another chance with a 70-54 upset win Wednesday in the Class 5A area playoffs at Butler Fieldhouse.
“We thought we were going to state last year, and they beat us by 15 (86-71), so we had something to prove,” junior Sean “P.J.” Haggerty said. “We came out strong and we got the win.”
The 6-3 guard led the way, supplying 30 points and 13 rebounds.
He scored 13 on 5-of-6 shooting in the third quarter, ensuring Hightower never got within single digits down the stretch, especially with Jaylen Herman handcuffing standout guard Bryce Griggs. Hightower’s star finished with only 13 points, and had five turnovers and no field goal attempts in the third.
“I saw J-Herm lock up (Griggs) and then the offense starting flowing and I started getting easy buckets,” Haggerty said.
The game didn’t come easy at the outset.
Crosby spotted Hightower a 2-0 lead before the opening tip on a technical foul for a pre-game dunk. Then the Hurricanes came out hot from long range, with consecutive 3s by Jacory Chatman giving them an early 11-4 lead. The Hurricanes clung to an 18-15 advantage heading to the second quarter.
The Cougars didn’t panic.
“Coached called a timeout and got us together,” Haggerty said. “He told us to keep playing hard, and you’ll come back and win, so that’s what we did.”
They did it with pressure defense — and double and triple teams on Griggs.
With Herman, Deniquez Dunn and Randolph Hubbard spearheading the defense, Crosby got rolling on the other end, too. Herman’s 3 and transition layup to start the second gave Crosby its first lead, and the Cougars took control with a 9-0 run Haggerty capped with a layup for a 31-22 edge.
“(Haggerty’s) a talent,” Crosby coach Edwin Egans said. “I love coaching him. There are times where I have to challenge him, but he’s a very talented player and we’re lucky to have him.”
Hightower couldn’t get in rhythm in the second half either.
Crosby opened the half with a 7-0 run, and the Hurricanes didn’t score their first points in the third until the 4:28 mark. The Cougars led by as much as 18, at 4729, before coasting to victory in the fourth.
By then, Egans already was thinking about the regional quarterfinals.
“It’s a second-round win,” the coach insisted. “I understand it’s Hightower, and they’re the No. 3 team in the state, but we’ve got to think about the next game now. It’s time to move on.”
Herman added 17 points for Crosby. Chatman had a team-high 17 for Hightower.
“Everybody thought we were going to get blasted, but we came out and showed everybody we’re better than that,” Haggerty said.