Trailing 19-0 with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter, Trinity head coach David King wasn’t sure what to think. But that was because of a severe headache.

&uot;I was so mad that my head was throbbing,&uot; King said. &uot;They just dominated us on the boards and we were stunned. And it just kind of snowballed. But I knew we could score in the 80s. I just didn’t know if we would be able to stop them.&uot;

Briarfield outrebounded Trinity 15-6 in the quarter.

&uot;We watched them earlier in the week and I told the boys that they have to box out because this team does a good job rebounding,&uot; King said.

The Saints got back in the game in the second quarter behind a boisterous Trinity crowd, outscoring the Rebels 20-10 in the second quarter to trail 33-27 at halftime.

All-Tournament performer Bobby Craig scored eight of his 13 points in the period to lead the rally.

&uot;At halftime I told the guys to focus on the game plan, box out and push the ball up and down the court,&uot; King said.

Trinity pulled to within four points twice early in the third quarter, but Tony Howard answered each basket for Briarfield.

Trinity’s John Bass hit a 3-pointer with 4:48 remaining in the quarter to pull the Saints to within 41-39.

Baskets by Phil Tomlinson and Caleb Gates put the Rebels back up by six, but Bass hit a basket and free throw to cut the lead to 45-42.

All-tourney Chad Ridley got some key baskets underneath to keep Trinity close at 49-46, but Howard nailed a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left in the quarter to give the Rebels a 54-48 advantage going into the final period.

That’s when tournament MVP Kris Thomson went to work.

Thomson weaved through the lane several times, scoring or dishing off to Craig as the Saints pulled to within 56-55.

He then hit a basket with 5:12 to play to give Trinity its first lead, 57-56.

Ridley put Trinity up 64-63 with 3:05 to play, but fouled out with 1:43 remaining. That was 31 seconds after Craig fouled out.

&uot;Our subs did a great job,&uot; Thomson said. &uot;I was proud of them because they work their tails off during the week getting us ready.&uot;

Two free throws by Thomson put Trinity up 66-64, but Gates hit a 1:56 to play to put the Saints up 69-65.

&uot;I just penetrated and then got open,&uot; Bass said. &uot;I felt pretty confident it was going in when I shot it.&uot;

Two free throws by Gates pull Briarfield to within 69-67, but Tyler Burns hit a basket to put the Saints up 71-67 with 1:16 left to play.

Howard hit a short jumper with 59 seconds left to pull the Rebels within two.

Howard then hit another field goal with 38 seconds left to tie the game at 71-71.

Trinity played for the last shot, but was forced to put up a long shot that was off the mark.

That’s when it became the Kris Thomson Show. Thomson, who finished with 37 points and nine rebounds, scored all nine of Trinity’s points in overtime.

After a free throw and basket by Gattle put Briarfield up 74-71, Thomson nailed a 3-pointer with 2:16 left to tied the game at 74-74.

Howard and Thomson exchanged two free throws each as the game was tied at 76-76 with 1:48 left.

Gates hit a basket and free throw, but Thomson answered with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining to tie the game at 79-79.

Thomson was fouled with 9.7 remaining and hit the first end of a one-and-one to put the Saints up 80-79.

Tomlinson came down and missed a shot, but Gates grabbed the rebound, turned around and put it back up before the buzzer, but the ball bounded off the rim, giving the Saints the win.

Ridley and Bass, both all-tournament selections, finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Howard led Briarfield with 27 points, while Gattle and Tomlinson added 22 and 15 points, respectively.

Trinity will have a top seed in the South State Tournament in Minden, La., beginning next Tuesday.

&160;