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Provo senior Trey Johnson scores a layup during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior Jason Carter drives to the basket during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior Finn Powelson goes up for a layup during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior Trey Johnson dribbles the ball up the court during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior Jason Carter wins the jump ball during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo fans and cheerleaders cheer on their team during the 4A second round game at Murray on Friday, Rb. 23, 2024.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

In the second round of the 4A boys basketball playoffs, on paper the No. 8 and No. 9 teams are supposed to be the most evenly matched.

Sometimes the games don’t play out that way but Friday night’s battle at Murray between the No. 8-seeded Spartans and No. 9-seed Provo certainly did.

In a low-scoring defensive battle, neither team led by more than seven points in the entire contest. Thanks to some hot outside shooting, Murray managed to stay in front for much of the game but the Bulldogs always answered to stay within striking distance.

In a game that good, 32 minutes of action simply wasn’t enough to decide a winner. Even 36 minutes wouldn’t do it.

The Spartans hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 34.1 seconds left and forced the extra frame, the seized control by knocking down their ninth 3-pointer of the game and a tough runner in the lane, but Provo wasn’t going down easily.

The Bulldogs came back with a couple of foul shots and a tough runner of their own to make the score 49-48 in favor of Murray with under a minute to play.

The Spartans only got one of their next two free throws to drop, then Provo senior Finn Powelson knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs up by one with just over 30 seconds remaining.

Murray drew another foul but could only make 1-of-2 again, tying the game at 51-51. Provo got the rebound with under 20 seconds left and a chance to win it at the buzzer.

The Bulldogs lost the ball and had a rushed shot near the rim blocked, sending the game to a second extra period.

Once again, Spartans started the scoring with a big 3-pointer and a pair of makes from the charity stripe — but Provo got a 3-pointer from sophomore Makai Allen to stay right with Murray.

After an exchange of baskets, the Spartans came up with a crucial offensive rebound and turned it into another 3-pointer.

And, finally, the Bulldogs ran out of comebacks.

Murray’s 7-point lead with under a 90 seconds left was too much for Provo to overcome, although they gave everything they had. In the end the Spartans escaped with the 69-63 2OT victory, ending an excellent season for the Bulldogs.

It was a fittingly thrilling finish to a game that was filled with drama throughout.

The Bulldogs surged in front at the end of the first quarter to go up 13-9, only to foul a Spartan 3-point shooter on a made trey early in the second period that tied the game.

That was the first in a string of four straight bombs from downtown that helped Murray go into halftime with a 26-20 lead.

The Spartans led 35-28 in the third and, although Provo bounced back from that deficit, the home team had a chance to go up by an even larger margin midway through the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs were tagged with an intentional foul on a rebound.

But Murray only got 1-of-2 from the line, then Provo forced a turnover on the ensuing possession.

That sparked the best sequence of the game for the Bulldogs as Provo went on a 9-0 run to build a 44-41.

But the Spartans answered, setting up the heart-stopping moments of the final seconds and the extra periods.

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