RIMERSBURG - It was a dream season for the Union boys basketball team, but it had a nightmarish finish.

With his team trailing by one point with four seconds left, Clarion's Eric Moore calmly sank two free throws to give the Bobcats a 57-56 lead.

The Golden Knights' Cody Mortimer took the in-bounds pass and dribbled near mid-court, but his shot fell short as the Bobcats came away with the 57-56 District 9 Class A quarterfinal win at Union High School.

Moore reached the foul line when he and Union's Kyle Hilliard scrambled for a loose ball after a missed jumper by the Bobcats.

Hilliard was charged with a holding call, much to the dismay of Union coach Karen Davis.

"They were both going for the loose ball," said Davis. "It's anyone's ball and they call a foul on us.

"I knew it would be like this, down to the wire. Two good teams, but don't take the game out of the kids' hands," she added.

"We tried to work the ball inside," said Clarion coach Rob Leone. "We got it in a tough spot and there was a loose ball. It's whoever wants it. (Moore) was strong with the ball."

And with the game teetering in the balance, Leone made sure not to put any pressure on Moore.

"I didn't talk to Eric. I made a point not to say anything," said Leone.

The game had 12 lead changes and nine ties and neither team held more than a four-point lead for the majority of the contest.

Union (20-5) trailed by four points before Mortimer made a free throw, then took the miss off the second and tossed it back in to make it a 49-48 game.

A basket by Brandon Hilyar bumped the Bobcats' lead up to three before Adam Milanovich scored and Billy Burns had a steal and score on consecutive possessions to give Union a 52-51 lead.

The Bobcats (19-7) re-took the lead when Sean Wolf scored, and, when Hilyar followed with a score of his own, the Bobcats enjoyed a 55-52 advantage with 2:22 left.

Milanovich scored 12 seconds later and Burns made one of two free throws to knot the game at 55.

Milanovich also sank a free throw with 55 seconds left to give Union the lead.

Both teams would turn the ball over before the Bobcats took possession with 21 seconds to go.

Moore made the free throws and when Mortimer's shot was off the mark, the Clarion fans rushed onto the floor.

"If (Moore) made it, we just wanted to get the ball down the floor," said Davis. "If there's anyone I'd want to shoot from mid-court, it would have been Mortimer."

The loss brings an end to the Knights' season, which saw them win the KSAC regular-season title. The team went 7-17 last season in Davis' first year at the helm.

"I told the kids to keep their heads up," said Davis. "It's been quite a ride. I wish it could have been longer, but I wish we would have lost the game because of us."

Notes:

Milanovich led all scorers with 20 points and Mortimer added 15. The Bobcats received 12 points from Moore and 11 from Donaldson. … The teams combined for 12 3-pointers. … The teams split their two games against each other this season, as both road teams won by 10.

CLARION 57

Brandon Hilyer 3 0-1 6, Sean Wolf 3 0-1 7, Eric Moore 4 2-2 12, Peter Baschnagel 3 0-0 6, Drew Vandermeer 2 3-3 7, Tyler Burnworth 0 0-0 0, Neil Cyphert 0 0-0 0, Andrew Banner 1 0-0 3, Adam Donaldson 4 0-1 11, Ryan Hritz 1 3-4 5. Totals: 21 8-12 57.

UNION 56

Devin Davis 3 0-0 7, Cody Mortimer 5 2-4 15, Bill Burns 2 3-6 8, Adam Milanovich 7 6-9 20, Kyle Hilliard 2 2-2 6, Gary Cooper 0 0-0 0, Colton Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 13-21 56.

3-point goals:

Donaldson 3, Moore 2, Wolf, Banner; Mortimer 3, D. Davis, Burns