BAY MINETTE, Alabama—Tied 44-44 with under two minutes to play, Nate Andrews added the final five points of his game-high 17 to keep Fairhope in the 6A Area 3 tournament with a 49-45 win over Foley Tuesday at Baldwin County High.

The Lions and Pirates battled closely all night with the score tied several times including 20-20 at halftime and four times in the final period. Fellow Fairhope senior Rushing Watson added 10 points for the Pirates. Velle Adams led Foley with 13 points and Melo Harris and Jalen Henry had 10 points each.

Fairhope (12-14) will now face Class 6A, Area 3 tournament host Baldwin County in the semifinals Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s great to get a big win like this and get to keep playing,” said Fairhope head coach Robby Robertson. “This is what you work for. Coach (Shumbe) Hunter had a great game plan and his players executed it well the entire game. I’m proud of how our kids never quit and made some good things happen right down to the last second. It was one of those games where both teams wanted it and played their hearts out, but it just comes down to the way the ball bounces and near the end there, it kind of bounced our way and we were able to finish strong.”

The score differential was never greater than three points until the final five seconds of the game. The Prates made 9-of-14 free throws. The Lions went 4-for-8 at the line.