MCCOMB — When crunch time arrived, McComb guard Antonio Johnson stepped up in a big way. A near-capacity crowd watched Johnson, a 5-foot-8 junior, sack a pair of fourth-quarter treys and then make two clutch free throws in the closing seconds, helping the Tigers turn back Brookhaven’s Panthers 45-41 Friday night in the championship finals of the Region 6-5A Tournament.

McComb (20-8), realizing its 16th straight 20-win season under the leadership of Coach Hilton Harrell, will host Gautier Tuesday night in the opening round of the South State playoffs. The Panthers (12-16), falling short of a Cinderella finish, travel to Pascagoula Tuesday night. The Lady Panthers play Pascagoula’s girls at 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 7:30.

Johnson completed the night with 13 points, all of them in the second half. Point guard Darius Simmons followed with 11 points. Shamar Williams grabbed 9 rebounds, 3 in the fourth quarter.

“Johnson made some big 3-pointers,” said BHS coach Preston Wilson. “He hit some big free throws, too.”

Wilson’s Panthers had upset No. 1 seed Pearl in Tuesday’s opening round but ran out of magic against McComb. They had carried a 14-5 lead into the second quarter, sparked by Fred Trevillion’s 12 points. They owned a slim 21-20 halftime lead.

“We got out of our game plan,” said Wilson, disappointment showing on his face. “We missed some shots and we lost our composure.”

The Tigers, inspired by a partisan crowd, pulled ahead 32-29 at the end of the third quarter. They were up 7 points, 38-31, with 6:55 showing, when Johnson sacked his second trey of the final frame.

Khalil Newton fueled a Panther comeback. His third field goal of the quarter pulled BHS within 1 point 42-41, 2:52 left to play. McComb went to a delay and Johnson netted a pair of clutch free throws with 65 seconds left to play, making it 44-41.

Trevillion sprained his left ankle trying to cover the cat-quick Johnson and had to leave the game briefly. The Panthers missed 2 field goal attempts and turned the ball over in the closing seconds.

“Our younger players really stepped up in the second half,” said Harrell, looking resplendent in a suit and tie with a bright yellow satin vest. “We changed to a 1-4 set in the second half and that got our shooters open.”

Trevillion finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Newton netted 10 points. Senior center Ryan Thibodeaux grabbed 7 rebounds.

Each team had 8 turnovers in the low-scoring game.