Hunter Herron (24) of Mortimer Jordan shoots between Hayden defenders Duncan Parker (54) and Corbie Craig (5) during the Blue Devils' 52-47 win in Class 5A Area 15 boys' play.

It may not have been the best-executed high school boys basketball game ever, with 51 fouls, oodles of turnovers and so-so (at best) shooting.

But what it lacked in technical merit was made up for with close competition, as the game was in doubt down to the wire of Mortimer Jordan’s 52-47 win at Hayden in Class 5A Area 14 boys basketball Friday night.

The Blue Devils were clinging to a one-point lead in the last minute, as the Wildcats were forced to foul and put Jordan at the foul line. But when the Cats got the ball after the foul shots, they either couldn’t hit at the other end or turned the ball over before a shot.

Austin Merritt finally iced the game when he sank two free throws after McKenzie Faile’s fifth foul with 10 seconds left.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Devils scored 14 straight points in the third quarter to take command. But Hayden clawed its way back, taking a brief one-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Dalton Hudson led Jordan with 13 points, Wes Crawford scored 11 and Merritt nine. Chris Whitt scored 13 as well and nabbed nine rebounds for the Wildcats, and Duncan Parker tallied 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Mortimer Jordan (5-6, 2-1 area) plays at Gardendale on Monday night, while Hayden (3-6, 1-2) heads to Locust Fork.