The Alternative Press

CHATHAM, NJ - Chatham seniors Joe Timmes and Sam Carson combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter, as the Cougars came from behind to beat Morris Hills in the opening round of the Morris County Tournament.

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Timmes and Carson were responsible for all but two of the team's points in the final period. Carson led all scorers with 26 points in the game, including 20 in the final 16 minutes.

"They're our two best offensive players," Chatham head coach Todd Ervin said. "So they have to score for us or we have to get someone else hitting and no one else is making it. We needed those two."

After leading by five points in the second quarter, the Cougars had to fight back in the final minutes of the second quarter to tie the game at halftime by scoring the final six points. Carson scored four points during the stretch including a deep straight-away 3-pointer.

After the intermission, Morris Hills took a 26-24 lead in the opening minute on a natural three point play from Brian Walls.

Carson responded quickly for Chatham. He scored the Cougars next 11 points, leading Chatham to a 35-33 lead after three quarters of play.

The senior forward said the team wasn't nervous when trailing in the third quarter because of their experience playing together.

"We're really comfortable together," Carson said. "This is the fourth year that we're playing together. I think we have a lot of experience. We knew we could just come back and get the win if we played hard."

In the fourth, Morris Hills was able to come with one basket of tying the game, but Timmes and Carson responded to every single basket they scored with a bucket for Chatham.

Carson felt like it was his turn to put the team on his shoulders and lead the Cougars to victory.

"That's what you got to do when its your time to be a senior," Carson said. "[Joe] Timmes was plying big all season, thats not anything new. I was just trying to do my part as a captain and help us get the win."

Chatham will face Mountain Lakes next weekend at Randolph High School in the second round of the Morris County Tournament.