By STAN CALDWELL/Sports Writer

WIGGINS — The third meeting of the season between the boys from Gautier and Wayne County shaped up just like the previous two – close, low-scoring, with nearly every possession hotly contested.

That is, until the final minutes of the game, when the War Eagles surged ahead for a 51-43 victory in the semifinal round of the Region 4-5A Tournament at the Henry Rath Activity Center on the campus of Stone High.

The Gators (16-13) will face the host Tomcats in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. Friday; Wayne County (14-12) advanced to face Laurel in the region championship at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The Golden Tornadoes defeated Stone 64-29 in the other semifinal.

“We knew we had opportunities to beat Wayne County tonight,” said fifth-year Gautier coach Warren Hargrove. “But we just didn’t take advantage of them, and we let their big guns beat us.”

Gautier managed to stifle Wayne County’s twin guard tandem of Daryl Thompson and Jarion George for most of the first half, but the sophomore guards for Wayne County did mortal damage to the Gators in the second half.

Thompson scored 17 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, including five 3-point shots, and George had 11 points after going scoreless in the opening period.

“We came out focused on (George) and (Thompson),” said Hargrove. “We were supposed to shade to their side, and multiple times our guys just lost track of them. (Thompson) put a hammer on us tonight.”

After taking an early 3-0 lead on a made 3-ball by senior Jaden Banks, the Gators played from behind for much of the first half.

Turnovers were a problem in the first quarter, as Gautier committed six in the period, including back-to-back steals by War Eagle senior D.K. McDougle for uncontested fast-break layups that gave Wayne County the lead.

However, those were about the only things that went uncontested against the Gators, as they kicked their defensive game up a notch, minimizing the impact of their turnovers. Anchored by 6-foot-9 senior Connor Smith, Gautier stayed in the game with its defense.

“For the most part, we were able to get back on defense,” said Smith, who had four blocks to go with his 10 points for Gautier. “But it was just a couple of times we lost track of (George) and (Thompson), and that’s what really killed us.”

And that defense helped the Gators battle back from a five-point deficit in the second quarter, after trailing 11-9 at the end of the first quarter. Gautier got turnovers on three consecutive possessions to fuel an 8-2 run to pull ahead 17-16.

Senior guards Tristen Street and Tyreek High each had 3-point shots in the Gator rally, and 3-pointers were a big part of the Gautier attack. The Gators were 7 of 25 (28.0 percent) from beyond the arc for the game.

“My teammates set up some really good screens for me to get open to shoot,” said Banks, who led the Gators with 11 points, including three treys. “We’ve got a great big man who can crash the boards, and get the ball out to the perimeter.

However, George got free in the lane for a 4-foot jump shot to give Wayne County the lead at halftime 18-17, and that proved to be an ominous sign for Gautier.

And the War Eagles proved to be just a little better on offense than the Gators, as they converted 11 of 20 shots (55.0 percent) from the field in the second half, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

Gautier was also better offensively in the second half, hitting 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) in the second half, including 4 of 12 on 3-balls.

“We have our 6-9 guy, but everywhere else we’re small,” said Hargrove. “We lean heavy on those 3s, and if they’re not falling, it’s rough for us, and teams we play know that. They were shading (Street) and (Banks) and they had trouble getting good looks.”

The result was a tough-as-nails contest, especially in the third quarter. Senior Kayden Colvin swished a 3-pointer and Smith got a putback, then junior Frederick Smith got a putback to put the Gators ahead 26-25.

Our coach wants us to be known as a scrappy team, and we try to be that and make him happy by getting aggressive,” said Banks. “We just let one slip away tonight.”

In all, the two teams played through five ties and seven lead changes. Banks swished a trey from the right baseline to put Gautier ahead 39-36 – the Gators’ largest lead of the night – but that was their last hurrah.

Thompson turned a steal into a 3-pointer from the left side to spark a decisive 8-0 run that put Wayne County in the driver’s seat, 44-39.

Smith floated a close-range shot to stop the bleeding, but the Gators would rue a number of bunnies that rimmed out or came up just short.

“If we just lay the ball up and stop all the fancy stuff and just go lay it up,” said Hargrove. “I think we’re looking at a much closer game.”

Gautier’s got a couple of turnovers in the final minute, but were unable to cash them in, and Thompson put the finishing touches with baseline drive, a foul and free throw for a three-point play with 1.5 seconds left in the game.

Gautier will look to get back on track in the consolation game against Stone, then get ready for a road game in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs next week.

“We just want to go out and get a win tomorrow night, and next week keep our season going as long as we can,” said Smith.

On the girls side, Laurel trounced East Central 70-18, and Wayne County dominated Gautier 50-27 Thursday. The Gators will battle East Central in the consolation game at 4 p.m. Friday, with Laurel and Wayne County playing for the championship at 7 p.m. Friday.