Trailing for the first 29 minutes of the game, East Robertson grabbed its first advantage on Woodard’s bucket with 2:20 left, and Phillip Stratton followed with a put-back basket to extend the margin to 46-43. Woodard, who did not play the first half, struggled to make just 3-of-11 at the free throw line – but nailed two straight with a minute to play to extend the lead to five.

The game was won at the free-throw line as the Indians made 14-of-26, and White House-Heritage made 5-of-8.

Heritage shot 19-of-42 in the game with 18 rebounds, and East Robertson connected on 17-of-37 with 21 boards. But the difference from one half to the next was turnovers and fouls, as Heritage surrendered just 10 giveaways for the game and eight of them came in the final two quarters.

Jordan Bedwell led Heritage with 15 points and dominated inside early, making six straight shots and connecting for 12 points in the first half. He also had five rebounds and two blocks.

Just like the girls game when East Robertson jumped out to a 13-2 lead and eventually lost the game, the Patriots fell to the same fate. Bedwell scored the first 11 points for his team and Ethan Kirby extended the lead to 11 in the first quarter. Heritage led by 10 midway through the third quarter when the comeback began for East.

Brett Guenther scored nine of his team-high 13 points for East Robertson in the first half and also had three boards and two assists. Stratton scored 10 with six rebounds and Woodard added nine with three steals and two assists. Jake Jernigan had five points, four rebounds and two assists, with Timothy Jernigan adding four points and Kelton Wells three. Adam Wilks put in six points and grabbed five rebounds.

John Moore put in 12 for the Patriots with four rebounds and two assists and Ethan Kirby added nine points. Devin Harper scored five points to go with two rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Daniel Ray put in three points with four rebounds and two assists. Jared Morris scored two.