It wasn't your epic uphill fight, but in Division I boys basketball action this season every game seems to take on that characteristic.

On Thursday night it was No. 19 Boulder Creek gradually making up small deficits to eventually net a 64-61 victory over No. 14 Highland at Highland High. 

Boulder Creek heads back to the East Valley on Saturday (Feb. 20) to face No. 3 Basha for the first time this season. Highland (14-13) closed its season in a funk. With the loss to Boulder Creek the Hawks losing streak to end the year reached eight

Boulder Creek (13-12), who has had to adjust to life without leading scorer and point guard Matt Downey the last couple weeks because of a broken foot, made its free throws in the final period. to carve out the win. The Jaguars made 9-of-11 in the final quarter, including 6 of-6 with the pressure at its zenith in the last 46 seconds (two free throws each by Kaiden Morton, Johnson and Ryan Serrano).

"It's been like this all year in Division I," Boulder Creek coach Ryne Holstrom said. "You can't replace what Matt does for us as a leader and a player. We've had to adjust. To win tonight we needed our seniors, and they were there for us."

Downey is one of those seniors and was on the bench cheering his mates on. On the floor two of the tri-captains -- seniors Justin Braun and Nick Johnson -- did their share. Johnson spread his scoring evenly over the contest finishing with a game-high 25 points. Braun added 18 -- 10 in the fourth period. 

It took nearly the entire game for Boulder Creek to get ahead and stay ahead. The Jaguars trailed 12-10 after one, 31-28 at halftime and 43-42 after three. Highland sank a three to begin the final period to go up 46-42 and led 52-48 with 5:32 to play. The teams were tied a final time at 54 on a runner by Braun with 3:52 to play. Braun gave BC the lead for good a minute later sneaking open on an inbounds play for a layup.

The Jaguars biggest lead of four was matched several times in the final  2/12 minutes. A putback by Johnson made it 58-54. Their 62-58 lead with 26 seconds left seemed to spell curtains for Highland, but the Hawks got life when Jake Pandrok threw up a wild three and was fouled. Pandrok made all three free throws to cut the lead to 62-61 with 16 seconds to play.

Serrano made his two free throws with 12.3 seconds to play and left Highland a chance if they could hit a three. The Hawks Sevey Alva got off two threes, both under pressure without time to get a good look. Both were off the mark -- the final attempt as the buzzer sounded.

Highland had four players score in double figures with forward-post Tim Fuller closing out his career with 16 points. Alva finished with 13 points, including 3 threes), followed by Pandrok with 11 and Nick Lott (10).