CRANBERRY TWP — It was a one-minute stretch that typified the Freeport boys basketball team this season.

Seven points in less than a minute.

It was a spurt that looked to put the Yellowjackets on their way, but it was their last offensive explosion as South Fayette was adept at keeping Freeport from the scoring binges it had feasted on this season.

The Lions' defense was just good enough in a 63-60 win over the Yellowjackets Wednesday night in the first round of the WPIAL 4A playoffs at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

“(Guards) Matt Thomas and Cam Garland are seniors and they've been in the program for four year,” said South Fayette assistant coach Mike Sherry. “The way that those two took care of the basketball tonight against a team that has done a great job taking it away all year — they did a great job.”

So did Freeport senior Kevin Lynch, who was all over the court on offense and defense.

Lynch scored a game-high 18 points and also made some spectacular passes to set up his teammates.

Lynch had the ball in his hands on Freeport's final possession down by three. He weaved between Lion defenders, who were attempting to foul him, and drove to the hoop to try to draw a foul and a 3-point play, but his layup rolled off the rim.

He crashed to the floor as the buzzer sounded.

“He's been our floor leader since he started for us,” said Freeport coach Mike Beale of Lynch. “I couldn't be prouder of him. I mean, he left it all on the floor for us tonight. Huge game. That's why he's the team captain. He's a senior leaving and he wanted to leave it all on the floor and he did.”

Both teams left it all on the floor as neither led by more than six points in a game played at a frenetic pace.

After Freeport's fast start to the second quarter led to a 30-24 lead, South Fayette cut that advantage to 32-30 at the half.

The wild third quarter saw four ties and four lead changes.

The fourth quarter began the same way with the two teams exchanging baskets until South Fayette took its biggest lead of the night at 59-53 with 1:50 remaining.

Freeport (15-8) hung close, however, and trailed by just two with 22 second remaining.

South Fayette (13-10) was just 9-of-17 from the line and 7-of-15 in the fourth. That allowed the Yellowjackets to hang around.

The Lions missed six of their last eight free throws.

“It was an interesting sequence at the end of the game,” Sherry said. “We were splitting pairs at the free throw line. I thought the difference was when they initially began fouling us, we made our free throws. It was just enough.”

South Fayette had four players score in double digits, led by Noah Plack with 15. Plack was also effective on the boards, particularly on the offensive glass.

The Lions will play Quaker Valley Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Evan Schaffhauser scored 11 points for Freeport. South Fayette was determined to take Ben Beale out of the game.

Beale took just five shots and scored six points.

“We felt like if we could limit him, we'd have a good chance to win this game,” Sherry said. “He worked hard for his shots.”

Despite the exit from the playoffs, this season was a success for Freeport.

The Yellowjackets came into the season with a wealth of unknowns to go with a wealth of talent. Four starters needed to be replaced.

“Very proud of this group,” Mike Beale said. “No one had a high expectation for us. What we achieved as a group was very special and it will always be a special part in my heart.”

SOUTH FAYETTE 63

Camron Garland 5-8 2-4 13, Matt Thomas 4-12 4-6 14, Luke Meindl 5-7 1-2 12, Tim Locher 3-5 1-2 7, Noah Plack 6-11 1-1 15, Anthony Frost 0-2 0-2 0, Andrew Gedrys 0-1 0-0 0, Connor Mislan 1-3 0-0 3. Totals: 25-49 9-17 63.

FREEPORT 60

Evan Scaffhauser 4-5 2-3 11, Kevin Lynch 6-14 6-8 18, Gavin Skradski 3-4 2-2 9, Jalen Brown 1-6 0-0 2, Ben Beale 2-5 0-0 6, Isiah Bauman 3-10 0-0 8, Sam Jacobyansky 3-3 0-0 6. Totals: 22-47 10-13 60.

South Fayette 14 16 15 18 — 63

Freeport12 20 15 13 — 60

3-point goals: South Fayette 4 (Garland, Thomas 2, Mislan); Freeport 6 (Schaffhauser, Skradski, Beale 2, Bauman 2)