Ashburton College’s Kambell Stills looks to get the ball down the court in his side’s 72-70 loss to St Andrew’s College. Photos Jaime Pitt-MacKayThe Ashburton College Junior Boys’ basketball side came within moments of completing a dream comeback in their second crossover match of the Junior Zone Four Premiership against St Andrew’s College, losing 70-72.

AshColl led by one point at the end of the first quarter, but saw STAC start to run out a lead in the first part of the second quarter.

The home side were able to peg them back halfway through, but they still trailed 26-33 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the wheels fell off for AshColl, with regular shooting fouls gifting STAC visits to the line, while the points just did not seem to fall for AshColl.

The fourth quarter started brighter for the home side, but STAC’s clinical finishing kept the lead comfortable, while it had been out at 17 points at times.

With around six minutes left on the clock, AshColl were able to pick up a vital stop in the STAC end of the court, and made it pay, using that momentum to force a 10-second violation.

STAC seemed to panic at the rampaging bull that was AshColl, with their lead being hacked and slashed away at until it was only two points.

Eventually time ran out for AshColl, who could have made it a three-point game from the line after a technical foul was called on the exasperated STAC coach.

AshColl were unable to convert, and a late two-pointer was not enough.

In their final match of the competition, the AshColl boys faced off against Christchurch Boys’ High School for 11th or 12th. The first two quarters would have given AshColl supporters a sense of deja vu, with AshColl falling behind early, with Boys able to extend to a lead well in to the teens.

AshColl did not make the same mistake twice of leaving the comeback late however, surging back in the third quarter to take a three point lead at the buzzer. Despite a late scare in the final minutes of the quarter, AshColl were able to see out the victory 62-57.

The Mount Hutt College Junior Boys side picked up a win in their second crossover match, downing Riccarton High School 83-76.

This set them up to take on Christ’s College in the playoff for 17th and 18th.

The side from Christchurch proved too strong however, winning 83-56, confirming 18th place for the Hutt.

A story on the finals and the Ashburton College Junior Girls’ side will be in Thursday’s Guardian.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 6 September 2017