A missed free throw in the last two seconds gave defending champions Sir Wilfrid Laurier Blue Devils a nail-biting victory over their rivals West Hill Warriors in the East Region Senior Boys Tier One basketball final on Feb. 11 at Seneca College.

It was an extremely close game throughout, with no team leading by more than 10 points at any given time. Thirty-seven seconds left on the clock, Laurier sank a game-changing basket to tie West Hill with 51 points.

The score tied at 51, Laurier made a two-point basket to give them a two point lead with four seconds left to go in the fourth quarter.

With just 2.1 seconds on the clock, Laurier fouled West Hill, resulting in two free throws and giving the Warriors an opportunity to tie the game.

But the Warriors sank only one, letting the Blue Devils narrowly win the East region championship 53-52.

“I’m happy, but it’s more of a relief,” Laurier head coach Tony Vallejo said. “We were expected to repeat, and we were able to accomplish it. We had a lot of teams gearing to knock us down.”

The two teams played each other twice this year, once during regular season and once during a tournament the weekend of Feb. 5. Laurier came out on top both times.

The Blue Devils finished the season at the top of the Eastern Region standings with a perfect record of 10-0. The West Hill Warriors came second, finishing 8-2.

With the win, Sir Wilfrid Laurier advanced to the city championship and was to host Earl Haig for their quarter-final match on Feb. 18. Earl Haig finished first in the North/East region with a record of 6-3.

Rejeehv McKinson #0, Jon Bernal #3, Keyon Fraser #5, Cameron Mars #10, Travis Sargeant #11, Daniel Kamara #12, Caleef Lyte-Frempong #14, Troy Watson # 21, Daniel Mullings #22, Frank Water #23, Aakib Nasiruddin #24, Christian Barton #32, Jacob Paris #34.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Blue Devils forward, Cameron Mars #10, dunks the basketball during the pre-game warm-up.

Parchment dribbles the ball past defending Blue Devils.

West Hill Warriors point-guard, Kevon Parchment #22, tries to drive past defending Laurier player, Daniel Mullings # 22.

West Hill player Brandon Burke #32, takes a shot.

Blue Devils forward, Daniel Kamara #12, drives to the basket.

Laurier guard, Frank Water #23, tries to draw a foul, while driving to the hoop.

Laurier player, Daniel Mullings #22, intercepts a pass just over half-court, and breaks down the hardwood to gain two points for his team.

West Hill Warriors point-guard, Kevon Parchment #22, takes a jump-shot, while Laurier forward, Daniel Kamara #12, tries to block it.

Blue Devils guard and forward, Daniel Mullings #22, takes a shot against defending Warriors.

West Hill’s Kevon Parchment fakes a shot, and dishes a pass to team-mate Brandon Burke, #32

Laurier’s Daniel Mullings sinks a free-throw.

Warrior’s shooting guard Mohammed Swaray #44, tries to dribble past defending Blue Devil Cameron Mars.

West Hill center and forward, Michael Knight #23, dunks the ball to give his team two points late in the game.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Blue Devils celebrate a tight victory over the West Hill Warriors. Travis Sargeant #11 is lifted onto his teammates shoulders.