It sure looked like it was Dawson Springs’ night, but Heritage Christian Academy kept battling back.
Down 21-5 at one point and still trailing by 10 points with 6 minutes left in regulation, Heritage Christian left Princeton Friday night with a 61-59 victory in overtime and a berth in the 2nd Region All A Classic championship game Saturday night.
Sophomore Jason Leek scored 26 points for the Warriors, including a steal and game-winning bucket with 6 seconds remaining in OT.
Leek had given HCA (13-11) its first lead of the night with a driving bucket with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. That put the Warriors up 51-50.
Dawson (6-13) tied the game at the 0:09 mark when Montgomery Johnston made the first of two free throws.
The Panthers then got the ball back on a turnover, and went back to the free-throw line when HCA was called for a foul on a drive down the lane with just 0:00.3 showing on the clock.
However, Dawson missed the front end of the one-plus-one, sending the game to overtime at 51-51.
The Panthers again grabbed the upper hand in the extra session only to see HCA tie things at 56-56 on a 3 by Trentin Fowler with 1:17 left.
But Jaydon Plunkette countered with a 3-pointer at the other end with 48 seconds to go, again giving Dawson the lead at 59-56.
Fowler answered with an old-fashioned three-point play for Heritage Christian. That knotted the score at 59-59 with 29 seconds to go.
Dawson then seemed set to hold for a final shot, but Leek came up with a steal and raced to the other end, converting a layup with 6 seconds left to give the Warriors a 61-59 advantage.
The Panthers had one final chance, and got a look at a 3-pointer from the corner as the horn sounded. But the shot came up short, and HCA celebrated a semifinal victory.
Heritage Christian got 16 points Carlos Robles in addition to the big game from Leek. Fowler finished with 10 points while Manny Diaz had 11 rebounds to go with four points.
Johnson had 17 to top Dawson while Plunkette added 16 and Rex Blue had 12.
It will be a battle of Hopkinsville private schools in the regional championship game.
Heritage Christian Academy will face University Heights Academy in Saturday’s 7 p.m. title tilt at Caldwell County High School.
UHA advanced with a 68-34 win over Crittenden County in Friday’s late semifinal game.
Dawson Springs 15 10 17 9 8 — 59
Heritage Christian 4 13 17 7 10 — 61
Dawson Springs (6-13)—Johnston 17, Plunkette 16, Blue 12, Dever 8, Fain 6.
Heritage Christian Academy (13-11)—Leek 26, Robles 16, Tre. Fowler 10, Tra Fowler 5, Diaz 4.
