COURTLAND—After digging themselves into a hole during the first half, the Southampton Academy Raiders turned defense into offense as they pulled ahead of the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Knights.

“We’re a defensive-minded team,” said Head Coach Jim Tribbett after the win. “That’s where we take our pride. That’s where we get a lot of our points from – defensive stops and coming out fast.”

In the first quarter, after coming out and taking the lead, the Raiders went cold and only scored 8 points, while giving up 14.

Early in the second quarter, Southampton Academy went down by as many as 8 points, but some key steals by Cam Hines sent the ball back the other way and they ended the half only down by 4, just outscoring the Knights 19-18 for the quarter.

The Knights would continue to lead for much of the third quarter, until the momentum started to shift. A steal by Paul Parker at half court would lead to a quick two-points by Johnny Tribbett with 1:31 left to go in the third, putting the Raiders down 40-39.

Ten seconds later, Hines would recover another turnover and take it all the way to the basket, which put the Raiders up by a point.

The Raiders would add 7 more points during that final minute, while keeping the Knights off the scoreboard, ending the third quarter 48-40.

It took two minutes into the fourth quarter for a team to strike, and it was the Knights, who made it a two-possession game, 48-42. The Raiders would quickly score, but a couple of three-point baskets by Quincy Green in back-to-back possessions made it a 54-48 game with 3:51 to go.

Over the next three minutes, the teams would trade and mostly miss from the free throw line – BHS would make one, which made it a 54-49 game going into the final minute.

But putting Tribbett on the line would be costly with 43 seconds to go, as he’d make both of them. Tonee Hill would make one of his free throws with 38 seconds to go.

On the next possession, the Raiders recovered a rebound and Hill held it until time expired.

Hill led all in scoring with 24 points, while Hines had 16. Hill and Tribbett led the Raiders in rebounds with 5 each.

“Tonee is averaging 22.1 points per game, and I believe that is third in the state,” said coach Tribbett. “We count on him. He’s quick, athletic and strong.”

Tribbett had 4 assists. Parker and Hines each had 3 steals, and Matt Rose had a block.

The Raiders will play Amelia Academy today in the semi-final game at 6:30 p.m. at Richard Bland Community College in Richmond.