CELINA-The Temple Crusaders broke open a 42-42 tie late in the third quarter here Monday night with 14 straight points, and went on to defeat the Clay County Bulldogs in a sub-state game, 64-50.

The loss ended the season for the Dawgs and brought a fine season to a halt. The Bulldogs won the District 7-A regular season title and tournament title and also won the Region 4 championship in advancing to the sub-state. CCHS wound up with a 27-7 record and lost only once to district opponents in regular-season and tournament play. 

The Crusaders jumped to a 12-point lead in the first quarter before the Bulldogs battled back. They cut the lead to 21-13 after one, and pulled to within two points with about a minute left in the second quarter, but Temple scored the final four points before intermission to lead 32-26.

The Bulldogs took a 37-34 lead at the 5:09 mark of the third quarter with a nine-point run, but Temple regrouped and closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run. The Crusaders led 50-42 after three and scored the first six points of the final quarter to go up 56-42 and complete their 14-point streak. The Bulldogs were never able to get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.  

The game was the final one for seniors Nolan Dale, Scott Brown, Tyler Edwards, Nathan Knight and Steve Dersham. 

DAWGS (50)-Knight 4, Garrett 15, Brown 10, Dersham 2, Dale 14, Boles 2, Korth 3.