Phantoms Topple Mustangs' Playoff Drive in Final Second

Blue Bell, Pa. - In the EPCC Quarterfinal Championship game, the Montgomery County Community College Mustangs lost to the Delaware County Community College Phantoms 73-71. 

The 2nd seeded Mustangs stepped onto the court with shaky feet from the very beginning of the game. Though the Mustangs were able to control the ball through most of the first half, the 7th seeded Phantoms kept them on their toes, never trailing by more than 9 and taking the lead twice.

Leading the Phantoms 39-32 at the half, the Mustangs appeared to find a new energy going into the second part of the game. But the Phantoms kept digging at the home team, drawing fouls and slowly closing the gap. With 11:07 left in the game, the Phantoms tied it up at 52 apiece. 

The Mustangs' rhythm broke down further when key players Tabias Thompson (PET Charter) and Kenny Walton (Cheltenham) fouled out of the game. With 3:18 to go, the Mustangs' Jeff Hurst (Souderton) scored the last basket his team would find for the evening. The Phantoms were able to gain control of the ball through fouls and turnovers, to tie up the score at 71-71 with 1:08 left on the clock. 

At 32 seconds left the Phantoms had possession of the ball and the Mustangs Head Coach Denny Surovec called on his players to try to draw a 5-second violation on the Phantoms. But instead, a jump ball was awarded, giving the Phantoms continued possession with 12 seconds left.

The Phantoms frantically passed through the Mustangs, who just barely missed 3 steal opportunities, until the ball landed in the hands of Phantoms' freshman second-string player 2 Daniel Diez-Merida. Diez-Merida, who has seen limited playing time this season and had not scored all game, threw the ball up for 2 points with no time left on the clock to give the Phantoms the 73-71 upset over the Mustangs.

This concludes the Mustangs' season with a record of 18-8 overall and 16-5 in the EPCC. The Delaware County Community College Phantoms will advance to the EPCC Semifinal Game tomorrow, to be held at the Community College of Philadelphia.