Father Tolton's Michael Porter Jr. put on his normal spectacular show, while the South Callaway Bulldogs showed that they were not in awe of the No. 1-ranked Trailblazers.
Porter provided a game-high 37 points, but top-seeded Tolton needed a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter to finally separate itself from No. 3 South Callaway in collecting the Class 3, District 8 title with a 72-60 win Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs - barely missing out on the state playoffs again after falling in a district championship for the second straight year - ended the season with a 23-3 record. The Trailblazers (25-2) move on to face Bowling Green (25-3) in a Class 3 sectional at Mexico High School on Wednesday night.
Every time Tolton threatened to take control Saturday, South Callaway was able to deliver a big shot. The Trailblazers owned a 25-18 lead when Bulldogs senior forward Jacob Smith buried the first of his three 3-pointers in the second period.
South Callaway was then down six points when it closed the first half with an 8-2 run over the final 3 minutes, 28 seconds to tie the game. Smith, who started the spurt with a 3, knocked down another trey with :36 left to bring the Bulldogs even at 31-all at the break.
Senior guard Cory Hanger accounted for the first points of the third quarter by making a pair of free throws to put South Callaway on top, but Tolton responded with seven unanswered points to regain the lead. The 6-foot-8 Porter - who was guarded for most of the contest by the 5-10 Hanger - opened the binge with a 3, 6-7 senior forward Josh Boyer added a basket in the lane, then Porter glided along the baseline to make it 38-33 with 6:04 to go in the quarter.
The Bulldogs, though, weren't about to submit. Senior guard Terry Miles hit a nifty reverse layup and fellow senior guard Troy Hentges followed on South Callaway's next possession by lobbing in a 3 from the corner to tie the game again at 38-all with 4:52 to play in the quarter.
This time, however, the Trailblazers reeled off a run that the Bulldogs couldn't match. Porter initiated the spree by hitting a pair of free throws and Boyer capped it off with a basket underneath to give Tolton a 48-38 edge at the 2:38 mark.
Porter's putback with :48 remaining gave the Trailblazers a 53-43 lead going to the fourth quarter.
Tolton twice led by 14 points early in the final 8 minutes, before Hanger drove the baseline to draw South Callaway within 61-51 with 3:13 to play. The Trailblazers countered by converting 9-of-10 free throws over the last 2:41 to seal the victory.
Smith tallied 19 points, 10 coming in the second quarter, to direct three players in double figures for the Bulldogs. Hentges was next with 16 points and Hanger supplied 12.
Porter - who had three dunks, one coming on a dazzling alley-oop in the third quarter - paced three players in double figures for Tolton. Boyer chipped in with 12 points and senior guard Brennan Church contributed 11.