HUMBOLDT — Even after the final horn sounded, with Humboldt High’s Cubs still down a point to Girard, players from both sides were unsure of what to do.
They looked on with equal parts exhaustion and confusion as the officials huddled, debating whether Humboldt senior standout Colden Cook was fouled as he launched a last-second runner that bounced off the rim.
After only a few seconds the officials emerged from their huddle with a quick wave of their arms.
No foul. Girard 50, Humboldt 49.
So ended Humboldt’s season in the first round of the Class 3A Substate Tournament with a 16-4 mark.
Girard, 6-13, which entered Friday’s contest as the No. 13 seed, advances to play at Fredonia Wednesday in the semifinals.
“It was definitely a chaotic ending,” Humboldt head coach David Taylor agreed.
The game saw big runs by both teams, but seemed to be in Humboldt’s favor when Senior guard Tre Franklin drilled a 3-pointer with 1:40 left to put the Cubs on top, 47-44.
But a recurring theme for much of the night — struggles at the free throw line, and Girard’s ability to get key offensive boards — proved fatal down the stretch.
The Cubs missed four straight free throws after Franklin’s 3-pointer.
Meanwhile, Girard’s Scott Moore got open inside for a bucket to pull the Trojans to within 47-46.
The teams traded turnovers before two missed Humboldt free throws gave Girard possession once again. Moore connected again from the lane, putting Humboldt in arrears, 48-47, with 40 seconds left.
Humboldt missed two more free throws.
Girard, which also struggled from the line, missed both of its free throws with 20 seconds left, but the Trojans’ Blake Brokob grabbed the second miss and had a quick putback, pushing the lead to 50-47 with 20 seconds left.
After a timeout, Franklin got a clean look from 3-point range, but the shot was short, into the arms of Cook, who put in the offensive rebound to make it 50-49 with 4.5 seconds left on the clock.
That’s when things took a turn for the surreal.
Humboldt pressured the ball as Girard attempted to inbound the ball, prompting the Trojans to try for a long pass to Moore behind the Cub defenders.
