Sicily Island High School coach Curtis Shavers is vocal, especially in a road playoff game against a familiar opponent.

On Tuesday night, Shavers was in his hometown for a matchup with the No. 17 Block Bears in the second round of LHSAA Class 1A playoffs. He never once separated himself from the attention of his topped-ranked Tigers, and instructed them until the very last second.

It was perhaps Shavers’ determined mindset and outspoken nature that lifted Sicily Island past his alma mater and parish rival, 62-56, to advance to quarterfinal play.

“I tell them constantly that the game is not over with until the buzzer goes off,” Shavers said. “Just because you have a lead in the first quarter, doesn’t mean you have a lead in the last quarter. The game is not over until it’s over.”

With four minutes remaining in the game, the Tigers held a comfortable lead, 50-36. A 9-2 run by the Bears kept them on their toes, however, and Block was able to come to within four points twice during the final minute.

“We stopped playing defense, thinking the game was over,” Shavers said. “I have to make them realize that anything can happen, and it almost happened. If we came out of here without a victory, we would have never heard the end of it.”

That wasn’t the only time Block challenged Sicily Island.

The Tigers came out strong and led at the end of the first period, 15-6. A fault in defense, however, allowed the Bears to pull off a 9-0 stint starting midway through the second quarter.

Block took its first lead of the night at two minutes before the break after Dorrion Davis sank a 3-pointer, giving his team a 20-19 halftime advantage.

While her team didn’t give up, Block coach Sue’Ann Easterling said it just wasn’t enough.

“I’m proud of them, but I know we could have won,” she said. “They were disappointed and I can understand. They know you have to play with all your might.”

Terris Evans scored a game-high 22 points for Block. Davis and Chris Holmes each posted 14 of their own.

It was senior Devion Dunbar who aided the Tigers’ third-quarter push.

With just over three minutes left in the period, Dunbar drove straight to the basket for an easy layup. After the Tigers forced a turnover on the Bears’ next possession, he then nailed a 3-pointer from the corner.

The Tigers scored 12 points in the next 90 seconds, and led at the end of the third quarter, 39-33.

Dunbar led Sicily Island with 20 points. Jameon Tolliver and Keonte Dunbar both added 13.

Devion said Shavers’ guidance is what helps him and his teammates stay focused, no matter the score.

“It keeps our head in the game,” he said.

Sicily Island (29-6) will host No. 8 Centerville Friday, and Block ends its season.