SAXTON - Southern Fulton gave Tussey Mountain all it could handle, but the Indians came up short in a 58-51 loss Saturday night in a District 5 Class AA first-round boys basketball playoff game.

The Indians trailed by five after one quarter and by only two at halftime. The teams battled to a 13-13 tie in the third period.

SF coach Kent Hendershot said, "It was a very close game. But it seemed like we played uphill all night."

In the fourth quarter, the Titans secured the win by hitting free throws. For the game, they took 35 foul shots and made 21; Southern Fulton took only nine free throws, hitting four.

Hendershot said, "We tied the game five times in the second half. We just couldn't get a bucket to fall to take the lead. We had to foul in the fourth quarter and they made their foul shots. That was the game."

Nick Smartt led the Indians, who finished 14-8, with 22 points and four steals. Jake Ashkettle grabbed 10 rebounds and had three assists.

For Tussey (16-7), Eric Husick was the game's high scorer with 24 points.

Going into the game, Southern Fulton had won five in a row and nine of its last 10.

Tussey Mountain 58

Southern Fulton 51

SOUTHERN FULTON

Nick Smartt 8 1-2 22, Connor Litton 1 0-2 2, Brady Golden 5 1-2 12, Jordan Clingerman 2 1-2 5, Jake Ashkettle 1 0-0 2, Alex Seburn 2 1-1 6, Austin Mellott 1 0-0 2, Noah Smartt 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 4-9 51.

TUSSEY MOUNTAIN

Mike Runk 3 2-6 9, Eric Husick 7 9-11 24, Michael Mitchell 1 3-6 6, Luke Zelanko

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5 7-12 17, Garrett Wilson 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 21-35 58.

Southern Fulton 13 12 13 13 - 51

Tussey Mountain 18 9 13 18 - 58

3-point shots - SF 7 (Ni.Smartt 5, Golden, Seburn); TM 3 (Runk, Husick, Mitchell). Shooting - SF 20-43 (46.5%). Rebounds - SF 31 (Ashkettle 10). Assists - SF 6 (Ashkettle 3). Steals - SF 8 (Ni.Smartt 4). Turnovers - SF 21. Blocked shots - SF 3. Fouled out - Golden.

Next game: Season is over.