Falcons outlast Hillcrest in OT to advance in basketball playoffs

The Nation Ford Falcons held off a fourth quarter rally from the Hillcrest Rams to escape with a 52-50 overtime win in the opening round of the 4A state boys basketball playoffs.

Nation Ford outscored Hillcrest 10-8 in overtime and was led by Ben Tuipulotu’s four points in the extra period. Cameron Holmes led the Falcons with 14 points overall and both Tuipulotu and Will Lawhon each had 13 points as well.

The Falcons will now face Byrnes High School on the road Saturday night in the second round.

“This is the time of year all you try to do is stay alive,” said Falcons’ head coach Michael Tew. “We really played hard down the stretch.”

The Falcons held a 24-19 lead at the half, but was outscored by Hillcrest 14-8 in the third quarter. Hillcrest hit six of 16 shots in the third quarter to grab a lead, while holding Nation Ford to just three of eight in shooting from the field.

At the end of the third quarter, Hillcrest held a one-point lead at 33-32. Hillcrest started the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run as Nation Ford opened the final period with three turnovers.

The 4-0 run was part of a 7-0 run by Hillcrest to extend their lead.

Nation Ford clawed its way back into the game tying it at 40 with 3:10 left. Both teams played conservative for the remainder of the game, however, with about eight seconds left, Holmes shot a 3-pointer and missed, but was fouled in the process sending him to the line to shoot three free throws.

Down 42-40, Homes hit two of three foul shots to tie the game and send it to over time.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Falcons outlast Hillcrest in OT to advance in basketball playoffs."