Second Baptist hosted San Antonio St. Anthony’s Saturday afternoon in a TAPPS 5A bi-district playoff game.

St. Anthony’s gave the Eagles quite a scare in the fourth, coming within three points, but Second Baptist pulled out a 43-36 win.

“For them to be in a three-point game with a minute left, I give them a lot of credit,”  Second Baptist coach David Canfield said.

The game was slow until the fourth quarter.

Connor Wood hit a three-point shot for the Eagles for their first score and Cole Jones hit a three-point shot for the Jackets' first score. Second Baptist finished the first with a six-point lead.

Halfway through the second, Alex Cooper was fouled and sank both free throws for the first two points of the quarter. St. Anthony’s Roman Mendoza hit a three for his team’s next points. The Eagles led by 11 after holding St. Anthony’s to only four that quarter.

“We played them in the regional finals last year and so we are used to their style of play,” Canfield said. “They are very physical, very aggressive, and they play hard-nose basketball.

The Jackets came out of halftime and shot two baskets for five points. Second Baptist dropped three shots for five points. Both teams finished out the third with three baskets and three free throws apiece. The Eagles had a 12-point lead heading into the final eight minutes.

St. Anthony’s Kade Jones hit a three followed by Mendoza’s two-point basket. Cooper hit the Eagles last basket before the Jackets went on a seven-point run to trail 37-33. Chris Grant dropped in two free points for Second Baptist but Kade Jones nailed a three to make it 38-35.

The Jackets had to foul Second Baptist for the final minute, but Second Baptist went 4-for-4 from the foul line to seal the win.

“They lost two key players from last year so I thought it was going to be a little easier but that wasn’t the case,” Canfield said. “Anytime you get into the playoffs where it is a one-and-done situation, you expect every team to play like that. They played very well.”

Second Baptist will drive to San Antonio to face rival Houston Christian in the regional round.

“We are a big rivalry so I expect emotions to be high,” Canfield said. “We played extremely well the first time we played them and got a big win. But we know their players are going to remember that and they are going to come out firing.”

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