On Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, the Harford Tech Cobras traveled to Bel Air to face the Bobcats and their first year coach in the first home Boys basketball game of the year.

The game started out in Bel Air’s favor with Kevin Morrissey hitting multiple threes to give the Bobcats an early lead. Bel Air held control of the first quarter, never going down by a point and keeping a steady lead. Harford Tech however, got their heads in the game and quickly brought down the Bobcats sizable lead, then turning the game into a much more interesting event. The end of the second quarter was a back and forth frenzy with both teams struggling to win the half. It was Harford Tech that made the very late run, giving them the important lead going into halftime.

The Cobra’s late run in the second quarter carried over into much of the third as they took a huge 14 point lead at one point. The Bobcats however would not let the lead get away from them, always keeping themselves in the game and keeping the Cobras lead to a manageable one.

Harford Tech still held a decent lead going into the fourth, having Bobcat fans wondering what the boys and their new coach would do to break the Cobras’ seemingly impenetrable defense. It was mid-way through the fourth quarter when Bel Air finally made its much anticipated run. Threes from Morrissey and JD Bruck brought the Cobras’ lead down to double digits while an intense man to man defense caused enough turnovers to bring Bel Air within one point. The end of the fourth consisted of many back and forth foul shots as each team tried to take the lead for one last time. With only seconds remaining in the game, a crucial lay up from Drew Adams gave the Bobcats the lead while on the next possession Morrissey hit 2 foul shots to give the Bobcats a 3 point lead with only 5 seconds remaining. Harford Tech would not be outdone as a Tech player hit the game tying buzzer beater to send the game into overtime.

Only 5 minutes would be the amount of time for these two teams to settle the game once and for all. The Bobcats came out firing with Morrissey and Adams both hitting clutch threes. The Cobras came back though, scoring at least a point on every possession, effectively taking the lead. Down by 1 with only seconds left, fouling was the only option left, hoping the Cobras would miss the first foul shot and give the Bel Air the ball back. With the entire gym holding their breath, the Cobra player missed the foul shot with Bel Air getting the ensuing rebound. Coach Nicols of Bel Air called his last time out. The play was run to perfection, with Junior Jahari Carmichael getting the ball behind the arc and sinking a fade away shot at the buzzer, winning the game.

Senior Kevin Morrissey said, “It was a tough game from the start. Harford tech is a good team. We fought from behind most of the second half but we dug deep and got that important first win.”

Carmichael finished with 23 points and Morrissey with 26 points as the Bel Air Bobcats beat Harford Tech 72-70.