By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Reporter

The Kingwood Christian School Lions advanced to the 3A AISA Final Four on Feb. 5 with a dramatic overtime victory over Pike Liberal.

In the 3A Elite Eight matchup, the Lions came away victorious by a final score of 50-46. With the Lions down three in the final seconds of the game, Kingwood’s Reggie Mann hit a three pointer to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, “Josef Ransom and Brandon McGiboney sealed the game,” Kingwood head coach Danny Davis relayed. “Brandon made some big free-throws to put us up, and Josef scored 5 points in overtime.”

The Lions were able to win the game without one of their integral cogs, Justin Gibson, being sidelined for most of the game after an early ankle injury.

“Reggie’s leadership really showed with Justin getting hurt in the first quarter,” Davis said.

Mann finished the contest with 15 points, 4 rebounds ad 3 assists. Ransom finished with a double-double, 13 points and 10 boards to lead the Lions.

Kingwood will compete in the 3A AISA Final Four Thursday, Feb. 12, against Bessemer Academy.