CUMBERLAND, MD – The Harford Fighting Owls traveled to Allegany College of Maryland last weekend for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Region XX and East District Championship Tournament. The tournament consisted of six teams for the first time in its history. The traditional four team Region XX tournament consisted of Hagerstown Community College, Baltimore City Community College, Allegany College of Maryland, and Harford Community College, with the winner of the Region XX tournament clashing with the winner of the annual Harcum College vs Monroe College matchup for the East District crown. This year Harcum College and Monroe College were put into the same bracket with the four Region XX schools to crown an East District champion in the first annual Region XX and East District Championship Tournament. 

The tournament began on Thursday for the 5th seeded Fighting Owls, matching up with Hagerstown Community College in the postseason for the third consecutive year. Hagerstown had come out on top in the previous two postseason meetings between the conference foes, but Harford was able to squash the narrative of their season ending at the hands of the Hawks this time around. It took overtime, but the Fighting Owls were able to outlast Hagerstown 81-73 and march to the East District semifinals. Sophomores Chandler Johnson and Nate Lacey led the Charge with Johnson finishing with 24 points and Lacey with 20. Freshman guard Ty Williams also finished the night in double figures with 11 points. 

It was then onto Friday evening for the Fighting Owls as they faced off with the awaiting top seeded Harcum Bears who earned themselves a bye to the semifinals. The Bears and Fighting Owls had met twice prior this season, Harcum would win both with the latest of the two being an overtime 110-109 final on the Bears' hardwood on February 5th. Harford was living in the present though, and with a determined group, knocked off the number one seed in the tournament 75-67, handing Harcum just their 5th loss of the year. It is the first time the Fighting Owls have gotten the best of the Bears since December 19, 2018. Ty Williams shined in the semifinal affair, finishing with 25 points and shooting 50% from the field. Chandler Johnson and Nate Lacey once again also carried the weight in the scoring column, Johnson finishing with 19 points and Lacey with 18. Lacey also led the team in rebounds with 9 and steals with 3 as Harford punched their ticket to championship Saturday. 

The Hollywood script would continue to write itself as Allegany College pulled an upset of their own in the nightcap semifinal matchup, taking down Monroe College in a statement 96-77 victory, setting the stage for Region XX rivals to clash for the East District title and a spot in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. The movie like weekend did not come with a storybook ending for the Fighting Owls, however. With just a few seconds left and Harford leading by two, Allegany College sophomore guard Cam Brown drove to the basket and laid it off the glass with the right hand as the backboards illuminated red to force overtime. Allegany would not look back, going on to outscore the Fighting Owls 8-4 in the extra frame for a final score of 62-58, and punch their ticket to Hutchinson, Kansas on their home hardwood. Harford had three players finish in double figures, including a double-double from Ty Williams finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Chandler Johnson and Nate Lacey again were close behind, Johnson finishing with 12 points and Lacey with 10. The Fighting Owls finished their season with a 19-14 record including tournament games.