BOGUE CHITTO – With seven seconds left in the game and BogueChitto leading 69-68, Puckett coach Michael Ray called a timeout toset up the game-winning play.

Under defensive pressure from Bogue Chitto, Puckett center ChrisArrington forced an opening and nailed a jumper which put thevisiting Wolves up 70-69 with three seconds left on the clock.Bobcat boys coach Theo Black called a timeout to set up the finalBogue Chitto play.

On the inbounds pass, Puckett’s Armanda Robinson stole thebasketball and ran out the clock in a come-from-behind win for theWolves in the first round of the South State 1A boys playoffs.

Puckett advances to the semifinals Friday and Saturday. In lastnight’s other games, Union eliminated McAdams 81-78, Durant dumpedThomastown 88-69 and Dexter clipped Enterprise 75-71.

“Bogue Chitto got after us,” said the 25-year-old Ray who is inhis third season as Puckett head coach. “They pressed as well asany team we have played all year.”

The Wolves improved to 15-6 and the Bobcats finish the year witha 15-9 record. Last football season Puckett eliminated Bogue Chittoin the second round of the state playoffs.

With 13 seconds left to play, Bogue Chitto’s Domenick Addisonnetted two free throws to give the hosts a 69-68 lead.

“They (Puckett) made the plays when they needed to,” said BogueChitto boys coach Theo Black following the loss. “You can’t expectto win with poor free-throw shooting. But we played it to theend.”

Free throws became crucial in the fourth quarter. Overall, BogueChitto was 9 for 21 but 5 of 12 in the final frame. Puckettfinished 15 of 25 and were 10 of 15 at the end.

Bogue Chitto had taken the lead, 13-12, at the end of the firstquarter. At the half, the Bobcats pushed their lead to five points,29-24, over Puckett.

Bogue Chitto center Dorian Dunn had four personal fouls beforehalftime and went scoreless.

The Bobcats continued to lead in the third quarter until the1:12 mark when the Wolves went up for the first time 41-39. With 11seconds showing, Bogue Chitto came back for a 44-43 lead on a pairof free throws from senior guard Denard Ferguson.

Ferguson fired in a game-high 24 points, made four steals andhad three assists for Bogue Chitto. Domenick Addison collected 17points, nine rebounds and four assists. Carlos Brown finished with13 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists.

“I’m proud of my team,” added Black. “We would have liked tohave gone farther.”

Puckett placed four players in double figures. Powering theWolves with 21 points, including four 3-pointers, was MarioRobinson. Armanda Robinson netted 19 points. Following with 10points apiece were Terrell Jackson and Chris Arrington.