St. Bernard's Christian Peterson reacts to a call in front of an animated Meek bench during the first half of Thursday's area tournament championship. The Tigers won in OT to clinch the title. 

St. Bernard’s bid for the a second boys regional berth got a whole lot trickier Thursday night.

The Saints erased a seven-point deficit in the last minute and a half of regulation but fell victim to foul trouble in overtime, allowing Meek to complete a 70-64 upset for the Class 1A, Area 11 Tournament title.

The loss snapped a 17-game win streak for the top-seeded and fifth-ranked hosts, who dropped to 21-2 and will travel for sub-regional play next Tuesday.

St. Bernard trailed 60-53 in the fourth quarter before Luis Zatarain and Dean Smith made a basket apiece to cut the gap to just three. Christian Peterson put the team on his shoulders from there, grabbing an offensive board, carrying it to the corner and swishing a 3-pointer to force bonus basketball.

The extra period wasn’t as kind to the Saints, who yielded the last seven points of the game — all at the free throw line — after temporarily clinging to a 64-63 lead.

Meek was 12 of 14 at the charity stripe from the fourth quarter on, compared to a 1-of-7 clip from St. Bernard, which misfired on its last six attempts.

“We were in foul trouble. Wound up three starters on the bench. So that hurt,” Saints coach Greg Boatright said. “Just gotta give credit to Meek. Coach (Robin) Key, I’ve known his family. That’s a basketball family. I give all the credit to him for bringing that bunch in here motivated. Bottom line, they just outplayed us.”

Scott Irving led the Tigers, who avenged 55-42 and 72-34 losses during the regular season, with 26 points. Jacob Woodard chipped in 17, and Andrew Phillips produced 10.

Peterson was the Saints’ main man with 21 points. Gavin Harris ripped off 15, followed by Dean Smith (10), Evan Aldridge (eight), Zatarain (six) and Jacob Grey (four).

Meek moves on to host the loser of Saturday’s Area 16 tourney championship game between Decatur Heritage and R.A. Hubbard, while St. Bernard hops on the bus to take on the winner.

The Saints, who made their only regional appearance during the 1999-2000 season, were defeated by Decatur Heritage 54-40 at home with the same regional stakes on the line a year ago.

“It was going to be tough here or on the road,” Boatright said. “It’ll just be tougher on the road.”

Grey, Harris, Peterson, Aldridge and Smith were named to the All-Area Team. Harris and Peterson doubled up as All-Tournament Team selections.

---

Class 6A, Area 15 Boys Tournament

Cullman 77, Decatur 71 (OT)

The Bearcats escaped the clutches of defeat in the closing seconds of regulation, climbing out of a three-point hole to set up free basketball and extending their season into next week with a superb effort in the extra period.

The Black and Gold (20-7) will face 6A No. 5 and host Austin Saturday at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s tourney title tilt.

Seth Swalve and Gage Goodwin combined for all 17 of Cullman’s points in overtime Thursday night, including identical 6-of-6 showings at the free throw line. Swalve accounted for the other five points, as well as 22 of his game-high 34 over the final 12 minutes. Goodwin, who had a game-tying putback late in regulation, wrapped up with 22 points.

Nic Handley and Jacob Heatherly (six points apiece), Dylan Finch (five) and Fletcher Reeling (four) rounded out the ‘Cats scorers.

---

Class 2A, Area 14 Boys Tournament

Cold Springs 93, Falkville 57

Triston Chambers (29 points and nine rebounds), Josh Freeman (17 points) and Blake Wood (10 points and seven rebounds) each cracked double digits, and the fifth-ranked and top-seeded Eagles cruised to the tourney final at home on Thursday.

Jesse Lee (nine points), Eli Hamby (eight), Cayde Elliott (six), Keelan Davis (five), Fisher Willoughby (four), Hunter McClendon (three) and Matthew Peed (two) also contributed offensively for Cold Springs (22-7), which will tango with No. 7 Tanner for the tourney championship and sub-regional hosting rights Saturday at 7 p.m. Both rivals defended their home courts during the regular season.

---

Class 4A, Area 10 Girls Tournament

Locust Fork 46, Good Hope 45

The Lady Raiders gave the second-ranked and host Hornets all they handle but ultimately had to settle for runner-up on Thursday.

The second-place hardware still granted Good Hope (15-15) a sub-regional date next Monday at the Area 14 tourney champ Westminster Christian.

Kaylee Maddox and Kelly Pickett topped the Red and White with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Kate Kent kicked in eight, Micah Oldacre netted four, Sadie Abbott added three, and Miriam Oldacre and Kyler Hembree each had two.

---

Class 5A, Area 14 Girls Tournament

Lawrence County 53, Fairview 44

UAB signee Rachael Childress piled on 20 of her 25 points in the second half, and the fifth-ranked and host Red Devils outscored the Aggies 18-6 in the third quarter to claim the tourney crown.

Taylor Ann Yeager rustled up 16 points for Fairview (21-7), which will vie for a second consecutive spot at regionals next Monday at the winner of Thursday’s Area 16 final between Ardmore and Columbia.

McKinna Yearwood and Abbi Taylor tossed in 12 and eight points, respectively, and each collected seven rebounds. Jada Golden and Lizzie Mae Garrison both added three points for the Aggies, who led 27-23 at halftime. Abby Schnittker had two points.