FAYETTE — Jefferson County High School set up one last play, trailing by two points to Forest High School with approximately eight seconds remaining in the game.

Akeem Williams received the inbound pass and rotated the ball to Christan Day to set up the play. Day took on Forest’s Howard Smith, one-on-one, but Smith stole the ball as time expired and Forest pulled out a 63-61 win Saturday.

Forest advanced to the MHSAA Class 3A quarterfinals, to face Holly Springs High School on March 5. Jefferson County’s season ended at 12-12.

Day said the play was designed for him to drive to the basket.

“I feel like I lost my team the game today,” Day said. “It was a good season, but there were some miscues throughout the game. (We) just weren’t able to pull it out down the stretch.”

To get to that point, Jefferson County had to fight back, down by as much as 13 points in the second half.

With just over three-minute mark in the fourth quarter, Jefferson County went on a 6-0 run to cut Forest’s lead to five points. At the 2:20 mark, Jeffery Mims converted a rebound into a put back from and tied the game, 55-55.

The rest of the game was won at the free throw line. Jefferson County hit 10-of-13 free throws in the fourth quarter, while Forest hit 7-of-11 free throws before the game came down to the final play.

An emotional Marcus Walton summed up his feelings for his squad at the end of the game.

“I love them, I thank God for them,” the Jefferson County coach said, “I couldn’t be more proud as a coach for the effort my kids gave me. This is why you do it every day. It hurts, but I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else right now.”

Day had 25 points, leading Jefferson County in scoring. Williams had 10 points and Josh Day finished with eight points.

“Someone had to lose tonight,” Walton said. “My heart goes out to them.”

The high-scoring second half contrasted the defense-oriented first half. The game’s first points didn’t come until Jefferson County scored at the 5:30 mark in the first quarter.

The Tigers held a 19-10 lead in the second quarter when Forest went on an 11-0 run to end the first half with a 21-19 lead.

“We’ve been watching Forest all year,” Walton said. “Coach (Perry) Fletcher and I are close. We wanted to stay away from each other, but we knew eventually we had to meet. All I can say is, it’s a classic.”

Walton said he dedicated the season to his former basketball coach at Jefferson County High School, Samuel Washington. Washington died in October.

“We wanted to get it all for him,” Walton said. “We’re proud to carry on his legacy.”

Walton said coach Washington would have been proud of his team Saturday night.