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And when the Kalkaska Blazers entered the fourth quarter trailing Kingsley by 14 points again, most everyone gave them little chance of getting back in the game, let alone winning it.

But, rising like a Phoenix in the fourth quarter, Kalkaska scrambled back to trail the Stags by just one point, 55-54, with 15.1 seconds left.

Kingsley scored the game-clinching points at the free throw line as Brian Conrad sank a pair to give the Stags a three-point cushion, 57-54. Alex Krause scored the last Kalkaska point

s of the game, and its season, with a baseline drive for a layup. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Blazers fell one point short, 57-56, in the Class C boys basketball district semifinals last Monday night at Manton High School.

"We waited to play about two minutes," Kalkaska head coach David Manchester said after the game.

"I'm going to watch the tape, but ... I don't know if this is coming from a coaching aspect ... I still feel there should have been something on the last play.

"But, it shouldn't have been that close. It was. I'm very proud of my guys for coming back like that. It showed a lot of heart and a lot of passion." Kingsley took a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and expanded it by two at the half, 29-21.

The Stags opened up a 14-point lead again heading into the fourth quarter, 47-33, and the Blazers appeared to have little wind left in their sails.

It looked even bleaker with the Stags holding an 11-point lead, 51-40, midway through the fourth period.

Jake Heller started the Kalkaska rally by penetrating inside and scoring on a finger-roll.

A 3-point shot by Travis Schuba was followed by a medium range pullup jumper by Krause, and a bucket by John Kasza after a steal by Schuba. That sliced the Stags' lead to 53-49 with 1:30 left to play.

Nathan Ensman slipped inside against the Kalkaska defense to give the Stags a 55-49 lead.

Krause answered with an driving layup of his own. Sophomore John Groesser drained a 3-pointer seconds after coming into the game to make it 55-54 with 15.1 seconds left. Conrad's two free throws pushed the Stags' lead to three, 57-54.

"It's bittersweet, losing like that," Manchester said. "I don't know whether I'd rather get blown out.

"You know, I feel bad for the seniors. They have to think about this game and the way it ended."

Heller, Krause and Jeff Wellman all graduate off this year's team.

Krause and Kasza scored 13 points apiece to lead the Blazers. Schuba contributed 11 points, Heller added 9, Groesser and Jake Royston each had 3 and William Ross and Andrew Higgins scored 2 apiece.

Ensman paced the Stags, who went on to win the district title with a win over Forest Area, with 16 points. Jordan VanHorn added 13.