TRION, Ga. - Seldom does a regular-season basketball victory mean so much to a team not in the running for a region championship.
Trion's 52-49 win over Christian Heritage on Tuesday night - only the second loss in 20 games for the visitors - in all likelihood clinched a state playoff spot for the Bulldogs (13-8, 4-5 in Region 6A-A) before the region tournament even begins.
With power ratings determining most of the playoff spots Trion, ranked 16th on the public school side coming into the game, will see its rating soar following the win over the private side's No. 4-ranked team.
On the emotional side, the victory avenged an ugly 73-45 loss two weeks ago and should provide a confidence boost for coach Levi Hatcher's squad.
"We knew they are such a good team - you don't go 18-1 to start the year unless you are - and when we played at their place we had a good half but we just didn't finish," Hatcher said after watching a rally from seven points down in the final period.
"Tonight we made some adjustments and I asked the guys to do something they weren't used to doing, and they bought in. They played so hard and I'm so proud of them."
The Bulldogs showed early they wouldn't get run out of the gym, using a deliberate style to get good shots in taking a 16-7 lead after one period. Jarret Van Gurp, fresh off a career-high 30-point game, had seven in the quarter, including a pair of strong drives.
He added six points in a physical second quarter that started to show a shift in the defensive game plan for the Lions, who began trapping and trying to speed up the Bulldogs. After cutting the lead to five by halftime, Christian Heritage found its offensive groove in the third period behind guard Zach Gentry.
Gentry scored nine consecutive points to turn a five-point deficit into a 40-36 lead before Van Gurp ended the run with a short jumper as the quarter ended. The Lions' momentum continued to surge, however, as Gentry drove for a three-point play and Christian Koneman nailed a 3-pointer for a 47-40 lead with 5:42 to play.
It appeared the inevitable was happening, but the Bulldogs refused to quit.
"Heart is what kept us in the game when they got up on us," Hatcher said. "My guys never stopped believing."
Trion guard Blaine Woody hit a 3-pointer to start the comeback, with Van Gurp adding a layup. Two minutes and a few empty possessions by each team later, Jayce Harris hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 48-47 lead. It was tied at 49 when Jarret Gill was fouled after hauling in a rebound, hitting both free throws.
The lead was three with nine seconds left when Koneman was fouled behind the 3-point line, but the referee ruled he was not in the act of shooting. Coach Tyler Watkins called a play for A.J. Kent, but his 3-point try was off as the Bulldogs celebrated the win.
"We definitely had a change of heart this time around," said Van Gurp, who led Trion with 17 points. "We gave up in the second half last time, and we wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. This is the definitely biggest win I've had in my tenure here."
Harris added 14 points for the Bulldogs, while Gentry led Christian Heritage with 13, followed by Koneman with 12 and Evan Lester with 11 and 10 rebounds.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.