Dejected Cardinal O’Hara players walk off the court after Tuesday’s 49-46 loss to Allentown Central Catholic in the second round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs. (Austin Hertzog/MediaNews Group).
By Bob Grotz
We’ll never know if Izaiah Pasha could have taken this Cardinal O’Hara basketball team to Hershey.
Not after Lucas Mushrush, whose last name sounds like the disciplined pass rush in football drilled a buzzer-beating triple to give Allentown Central Catholic a 49-46 triumph over O’Hara Tuesday in the second round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs at the Geigle Complex.
There is, however, no doubt in the mind of Pasha, an elite talent commited to Iona. He did his part to push the Lions through as he made both ends of a one-and-bonus to knot the score with 11.1 ticks left. Instead, he finished his high school career with 18 points. Not the easiest way to depart for bigger and better things.
“It was super-tough,” Pasha said. “I tried to give it my all and unfortunately my team fell short. Buzzer beater. We were in the huddle talking about what defense we could play. We like to play like an extended zone. We tried to matchup with the shooters, felt we got a good contest. He just knocked down a great shot.”