Williamson, 21st Century fall short at semistate
Junior guard scores 27 points in Cougars’ OT loss to Lafayette Central Catholic
LAFAYETTE — Ashton Williamson tried to process the outcome.
“We did a good job this season,” he said. “We got far. We wanted to go farther. We just have to keep working for next year.”
The season ended for 21st Century with a 68-65 overtime loss to Lafayette Central Catholic in the Class 1A Lafayette Jefferson Semistate on Saturday.
The Cougars, ranked No. 1 in the 1A poll by Associated Press, could not break through for their first trip to a state championship game. They were making their third semistate appearance and first since 2017, when they also lost to Lafayette Central Catholic.
“We left it all on the court,” 21st Century coach Larry Upshaw said. “Incredible season. They listened all the way through. We were one shot short in overtime. There’s nothing else you can ask for from a group of high school kids.”
The Cougars (23-4) led by as many as seven points midway through the third quarter and 48-42 heading into the fourth. But No. 11 Lafayette Central Catholic (20-9) rallied, with the game heading to OT tied at 59-59.
The Knights made one of two free throws with 1:09 left in OT to take a 66-65 lead and added two free throws off an offensive rebound with 16.6 seconds left.
The Cougars missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds. They also missed a potential winning 3-pointer as time expired in regulation.
Williamson, a junior guard, had a game-high 27 points, seven rebounds and four steals before fouling out with 1:09 left in OT, emblematic of 21st Century’s foul trouble.
Senior forward Eric Price had 16 points, including a 3-pointer that drew the Cougars to 65-64 with 1:46 left in OT.
“Shooters are going to shoot,” Price said. “I felt like it was going in. I thought it would change momentum. We just fell short on the defensive end.
“I’m so proud of us. We played hard as a team. We just fell short.”
Clark Obermiller had 23 points and 18 rebounds for Lafayette Central Catholic. Clark Barrett added 14 points and 14 rebounds.
“The backside rebounds from 24, Obermiller, his length, just killed us,” Upshaw said.
Williamson agreed.
“It was us not rebounding, boxing out, and not diving for loose balls,” he said.
Williamson, Price and junior guard/forward Quintin Floyd all picked up two fouls in the first quarter. Price and Floyd had three fouls each by halftime.
“We took some bad calls,” Upshaw said. “We shot 12 free throws. They shot 36.”
The Cougars started three juniors in Williamson, DJ Moss and Roy Cast, along
with freshman Lemetrius Williams. Floyd, who started most of the season, was the first player off the bench. Moss had nine points, and Floyd added seven.
Price was the team’s only senior starter.
“You can see him stepping up (Saturday),” Upshaw said of Price. “He didn’t want this to be his last game. But he’s going to be a steal at the next level. He’s a great locker room guy, and he knows basketball.”