Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central

CAMPBELL HILL — The matchup between two of the area’s top teams and the last two standing in a loaded 1A sectional grouping lived up to the hype as Goreville held off Waltonville 47-44 to win the Trico 1A Sectional championship.

The game was not decided until Waltonville’s Gage Peterson’s halfcourt shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Goreville, after outlasting another state-ranked team Sparta 66-63 Wednesday night, made critical plays in the fourth quarter then made enough free throws to hold on for the win.

Zech Green, who led the Blackcats with 13 points, hit the go ahead three-pointer late in the third quarter. Garrett Church, who added 11, buried another three early in the fourth for a 41-37 lead.

After Goreville grabbed its biggest lead of the night at 43-37 on a Nick King layup, Waltonville promptly answered with a 7-2 run pulling within 45-44 on a Peterson rebound bucket with 15 seconds to play.

Waltonville’s Jagger Mayville led all scorers with 17 points. Peterson added 11 for the Spartans who finished 30-5 for the season.

The Blackcats improve to 32-4 and will now face Jacksonville Routt Catholic Monday at 7:00 in the Jacksonville Bowl 1A Supersectional with the winner headed to the state semifinals.