CRANBERRY TWP — Freeport trailed at the half but was feeling pretty good.

South Fayette was ahead at the break, but was feeling kind of lousy.

That pretty much summed up the way the WPIAL 4A first round boys basketball playoff game went Wednesday night at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School.

Both teams went on big run. Both teams had large cushions and lost them. Both teams had a lead seven times.

But South Fayette had it last, ousting the Yellowjackets from the playoffs, 48-45.

“We were down by one at the half and we told them flat out that was probably the worst half we played all year,” said Freeport coach Mike Beale. “We felt good going into the second half.”

Freeport (15-7) felt even better when it opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 27-19 lead.

The Yellowjackets led by nine late in the third and again by eight at 38-30 a little more than two minutes into the fourth, but things got away from them quickly.

Just three minutes later, and helped by a technical foul, the Lions had stormed back to tie the game at 40-40.

“It's a game of runs,” Beale said. “We knew that. Unfortunately I think that technical foul changed the complexion of the game.”

The technical was called on a Freeport player for what Beale was told was for profanity. Beale claimed the player told him he didn't curse.

Regardless, Beale questioned the technical call.

“In a playoff game like this, there's a lot of talking out there. There's a lot,” Beale said. “All those kids out there are talking.”

Still, Freeport recovered and led 44-43 after a layup by Jalen Brown with 1:25 remaining. South Fayette took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Connor Mislan just 13 seconds later.

Ben Beale misfired on a desperation 3 at the end of the game from just inside half court and South Fayette had its second three-point playoff win over Freeport at North Catholic's gym in successive seasons.

“All our guards are new and I was concerned about the playoff atmosphere,” said South Fayette coach Dave Mislan. “But I tell you what. You couldn't get a better fourth quarter.”

The Lions outscored the Yellowjackets 20-10 in the final eight minutes.

Despite leading 19-18 at the half, Coach Mislan was very displeased.

“I'm a pretty honest guy,” the coach said. “They out-executed us. I could just feel the frustration.”

Ben Beale scored 16 points in his final game with the Yellowjackets.

Brown added 12 for Freeport.

“Jalen did a phenomenal job,” Mike Beale said. “From last year to now was like night and day for him. And he's back next year.”

Connor Mislan paced South Fayette with 14 points — nine coming in the fourth quarter.

The Lions (16-7) will face New Castle Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Geneva College in the next round.

FREEPORT 45

Isiah Bauman 2-9 3-4 7, Ben Beale 6-17 2-5 16, Jalen Brown 6-12 0-0 12, Garrett Schaffhauser 1-5 2-2 4, Damon Shiring 0-3 0-0 0, Aiden Skradski 2-5 0-0 6, Gavin Skradski 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-51 7-11 45.

SOUTH FAYETTE 48

Connor Mislan 4-12 5-7 14, Drew Franklin 5-9 0-0 10, Tim Locher 3-6 2-3 9, Noah Plack 4-5 2-3 10, Braden Hoy 2-5 0-2 5, Joe Alcorn 0-1 0-0 0, Ben Coyne 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 18-40 9-15 48.

Freeport 6 12 17 10 — 45

South Fayette10 9 9 20 — 48

3-point goals: Beale 2, A.Skradski 2; Mislan, Locher, Hoy