St. Francis opened the game strong, jumping out to a 14–9 lead behind crisp ball movement and a well-executed 4-out-1-in offense. They consistently worked the ball into the post and kicked out for clean looks, keeping their rhythm early.
University School matched their intensity with aggressive drives to the basket, drawing fouls and knocking down key free throws to stay within reach. Their smart decision-making and strong basketball IQ showed throughout the half, especially in transition, where they capitalized on 2-on-1 opportunities.
With six minutes left, St. Francis held a narrow 1-point lead in what quickly became a tightly contested matchup between two skilled teams. Both squads battled for loose balls and showed hustle on every 50-50 play. University School gained a slight edge late as St. Francis entered foul trouble with seven team fouls, but St. Francis held their composure.
In the final minute, University School hit a smooth pump-fake pull-up to close the gap, but still trailed by five. After a 30-second timeout from St. Francis University School jumped a passing lane on the inbound, turning it into a quick layup to end the half. St. Francis heads into the break with a 22–19 lead in a high-energy, evenly matched game.
University School came out of halftime with urgency, scoring three straight baskets to take a 25–22 lead. Their relentless ball pressure forced key turnovers that immediately turned into offense. Crisp ball movement—often four or five passes before a shot—kept St. Francis scrambling, and a dominant run pushed US ahead 31–24, forcing a St. Francis timeout. Their aggressive diamond press continued to disrupt passing lanes as they took firm control of the game.
St. Francis refused to back down. Out of the timeout, they attacked the rim for a quick basket and brought their own pressure, trying to shift momentum. But, US calmly broke the press with smart passing and strong communication on the floor.
The energy ramped up as US drilled a big three to take an eight-point lead, 40–32. Their shot-making stretched the margin even further, hitting floaters and tough finishes to go up 46–32. Still, St. Francis fought back, answering with a pull-up jumper and a steal-and-score to stay within striking distance.
An and-one finish by St. Francis cut the lead to 48–41, forcing US to burn a timeout with five minutes remaining. Out of the break, St. Francis continued their surge with another steal and quick bucket, trimming the lead to just five. With under two minutes to play, another St. Francis steal led to a layup, prompting a full timeout from US.
US responded with poise, taking their time on offense and forcing St. Francis to foul. They converted a clutch and-one to extend the lead, then locked in defensively—no fouls, active feet, smart rotations. As St. Francis was forced to foul late, US executed their end-of-game strategy perfectly, holding on for a hard-fought win in a thrilling matchup with a score of 54-45.