In the final seconds of the game, Warrior star Jalen Quinn, who finished with 33 points, was turned into a spectator as he had fouled out.

But, before the future NCAA Division I Loyola University Rambler took a seat in the front row, he made sure his team had the lead. In what became a theme of the game, he made an old fashioned three pointer with 1:56 to play to cut the Bulldog advantage to just one, 48-47. He would give them the lead for good with only 40 ticks left on the clock. The 6-4 senior guard sank two free throws. In 2:10 of play between 2:51 and :40, he would hit all five opportunities.

"We went small at one point and played faster, smaller guards," said Bozarth. "We had them scouted and it paid off at the end. We have two days to regroup, re hydrate and get ready on Thursday. Jalen really came through tonight. Driving to the basket, using his spin moves and drawing the fouls."

That simply gave the Warriors a one-point lead, 49-48, with plenty of time left for the Bulldogs to score and win the game, or get fouled and send it into overtime. Neither happened. With only :18.5 to play, the senior would hit one-of-two charity tosses to give them a 50-48 lead. While Quinn baked the cake the entire game, Colton Musgrave put the icing on. The junior would nail the second of two free throw chances right inside the five second mark and the Bulldogs would be forced to go for a three pointer to at least tie the game and send it into overtime.

"They made some defensive plays around the court, necessary for them to get the ball in Quinn's hands," said Cody Rincker, St. Anthony's head coach. "It was those late turnovers and his ability to spread us out and get to the basket. This Bulldog group was a fantastic group. They learned from their mistakes early in the year and that is why we finished with over 20 wins. This is a great atmosphere. Very proud of the fans and the support we get from them."

As they entered the fourth quarter, the crowd, seemly evenly split between Tuscola and St. Anthony supporters watched as the Bulldogs were seemingly creeping away with the lead, be it ever so slowly. Heading into the final four minutes of the game, the Bulldogs held an eight point, 48-40 lead, thanks to the scoring of Craig Croy, who started the scoring for the Dogs at the 6:43 mark, but also Adam Rudibaugh as well.

But, the after the first four minutes of the final eight minutes, the Bulldog scoring simply exited stage left. Rudibaugh and Croy would finish with four points each in the final stanza, but the Tuscola defense, now pressuring the St. Anthony offense beyond 3/4 court, was forcing the Bulldogs to make much longer passes.

The result: the Bulldogs would be held to their lowest quarter point total of the game.

Meanwhile, the only thing that would be heard in the Enlow Center in Effingham was the dribbling of the basketball and the the roar/groans of the crowd as Quinn pulled them closer and closer to taking the lead and finally to victory.

With 3:13 to play, Quinn drained a layup as he dashed down the middle of the floor with the basketball and hit the layup eyeing the clock and showing a sense of urgency.

"That was a greatly played game by both teams," said Rincker, who finished 21-13. "We had the momentum for sure, but they used their trapping defense to pressure us and then Jalen (Quinn) is a player than can change the momentum. He gets to the basket well. We forced them to play without him at times. We forced them into some turnovers."

After that, it was all charity stripe action besides the bucket scored during the old-fashioned three pointer at 1:56. Rincker called timeout between the throws at the :40 mark, but Quinn would bucket the second one as well.

The final four minutes of the game does not negate the first 28 minutes of the contest. The Dogs had the Warriors on the run, in foul trouble and on the ropes.

After Tuscola scored the first five points of the game, the St. Anthony quickly answered and tied the score up. Quinn would be in double figures by the quarter's completion, scoring 10 of the Tuscola 13 points.

The only field goal not scored by him was an early trey hit by sophomore guard Josiah Hortin.

But, the Bulldogs showed they were more than capable of keeping pace. And they used 6-foot-4 senior Kyle Stewart to accomplish it.

While Stewart did not score in double figured in the first quarter, he did have eight. The Bulldogs boasted a 15-13 lead at the first break.

They would hold the Warriors to just nine points in the second quarter and would hole a four point edge at the end of the half.

Stewart would score seven of his Bulldog-high 17 points in the third quarter and the red-clad Bulldog fans anticipated an upset victory on the horizon.

The two teams each posted 12 points in the third quarter to set up the Tuscola dramatic comeback in the final four minutes of the game.

Croy had 12 points for the Bulldogs. Quinn was the only Warrior in double figures.

"I felt a bit of relief when Colton hit that free throw," said Quinn. "It made up for the free throw that I missed earlier. "When I was sitting on the bench, I was a little down on myself. But, I had faith in them. It put some additional pressure on them. I am so glad that we are moving on. I am proud and happy we are moving on."

The Warriors, now 28-6, will play the winner of the Macon Meridian/Farina South Central game on Friday night for the St. Anthony Sectional Championship.

If it is Meridian, it will be the third time this year the two state ranked teams have faced off. Each have won one.