Hanceville's Raiden Morgan makes a 3-pointer.

BIRMINGHAM — Hanceville’s varsity boys entered halftime of Tuesday’s semifinal clash just 16 minutes away from playing for a state title.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, however, the second half didn’t go according to plan — thanks in large part to a dominant performance by the opposing team.

Pike County overcame a six-point deficit at intermission, played incredibly well defensively in the third and fourth quarters, and notched a 52-42 victory versus Hanceville to advance to the Class 3A state championship contest, scheduled for Friday at 2:15 p.m.

The Bulldogs ended their magical season at 18-13, while No. 8 Pike County improved to 23-6.

“I’m so proud of this team — the five seniors and the underclassmen — to constantly fight and give ourselves an opportunity to make any game a game and give ourselves a chance,” coach Stephen Chandler said. “The Final Four moment wasn’t too big for us. We felt like we were ready, and I felt my guys came out with heart and played with effort and continued to fight until the end. We just kind of got caught on a number and couldn’t get it going at times.”

Hanceville got off to a blistering start, corralling the game’s first eight points to seize momentum and a 12-7 cushion after the opening quarter.

Pike County — without 6-8 stud Andres Burney for most of the first half — kept things close with defense, holding the Bulldogs without a field goal for five-plus minutes in the second stanza and trailing by just two points (18-16) with 2:37 left on the clock.

Chandler’s squad, however, closed out the frame with a 6-2 run to claim a 24-18 halftime lead.

“We felt good, but we knew that we left a lot on the table,” Chandler said. “Especially with Burney being out so long. We really felt like we didn’t take enough advantage of that in the first half. Our message (at halftime) was just keep trying to score, keep trying to score. But they locked it down for a little bit on defense.”

Pike County certainly came out with a renewed purpose to start the second half.

Coach Doug Holland’s program opened the third frame on a 12-0 run to grab a 30-24 advantage and took a 34-32 lead — Hanceville responded with an 8-4 spurt — entering the final quarter.

Raiden Morgan’s free throws with 6:21 left tied the back-and-forth contest at 36, but things soon fell apart for the Purple and Gold.

Pike County turned up the defense, using a 16-2 run to a secure a 14-point lead with less than a minute remaining on the clock.

During the second half, the Bulldogs were held to just 5-of-24 shooting.

“We couldn’t get one to fall, couldn’t get a good look,” Chandler said. “It was just kind of trying to claw and fight our way around. Somehow, we kept it a game until the fourth.”

Morgan finished with 18 points, while Cainon Moore added 11.

Tyson Bellmon (six), Izayah Glenon (two), Ethan Roberts (two), Brodie Malcom (two) and Zach Campbell (one) also contributed for Hanceville.

Omar Cumberbatch (13 points and nine rebounds) and Burney (12 points and 19 rebounds) had the top showings for Pike County.

The tough loss capped a wild and memorable two weeks for the Bulldogs, who bested Locust Fork in overtime 58-57 to reach the Northeast Regional Tournament for the second straight year.

The Purple and Gold then eliminated No. 1 Piedmont 52-50 in double overtime before taking down Midfield 56-54 to capture the regional crown and advance to the state tournament for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign.

“It’s a testament to our guys,” Chandler said. “All this was fun. It was nerve-wracking at the time, but the way that we kept coming together and finding ways … we joked about being a team of destiny and all that stuff. We fully expected to come down here and have a chance to win this. 

“But this team has laid the groundwork and the foundation. They have given us a platform to keep going, develop and make these younger guys understand that we can always fight and always give ourselves a chance to make a run or make a play.”

Added Morgan, a senior: “We believed. Our coaches told us we could be better than last year’s team and make it farther. We just put in the time and the work and got here. It’s been very, very special.”