By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The game wasn’t over, but it sure looked like the Callaway Cavaliers had it in the bag.

The Cavaliers were up 45-31 against visiting Dawson County after a D.J. Rutledge basket in the fourth quarter, capping a 16-4 run that broke open what had been a four-point game early in the third quarter.

It wasn’t over, though, not by a long-shot.

The Tigers got hot and started making just every shot they put up, and when Jacob Evans knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:40 left, Callaway’s once seemingly insurmountable lead was down to two.

The Cavs (19-7) found their footing just in time, though, and they closed the game on a 7-0 run to win 59-50 and advance to the second round of the Class AA state tournament.

Callaway will be back home Tuesday night for a second-round game.

“It’s an ugly win, but it’s a win,” Callaway coach Greg Moultrie said. “I think Jimmy V said it best, survive and advance. That’s what we did tonight, we survived.”

Rutledge, whose basket with 1:24 left kick-started the game-ending 7-0 run, said the players’ only concern is keeping the season alive.

“That’s all we wanted to do was win,” Rutledge said. “Whatever it takes to win, that’s all we want. We want to get to Macon (for the final four).”

Trailing 25-17 at the half, Dawson County got within four early in the third period before Callaway closed the quarter on a 14-3 run to go up 43-28.

The Tigers got within single digits on a 3-pointer from Evans with 6:10 left, and a Tyler Dominy 3-pointer made it a 49-44 game with 4:38 left.

Dominy made another 3-pointer with 2:50 remaining to trim Callaway’s lead to three, and Evans’ bomb brought the Tigers within 52-50.

The Tigers were on a 19-7 run, their fans were on their feet making plenty of noise, and they had all the momentum.

“The scouting report was correct. We were knew they were good at shooting 3-pointers,” Moultrie said. “They didn’t get hot until late, but once they got hot, they started knocking them down.”

There was no panic among the Callaway players, though.

They calmly ran their offensive set, and Rutledge scored to extend the lead to four.

The Tigers didn’t score again, and they missed a couple of free throws that would have brought it closer.

The Cavs did what they had to do, which is all that matters this time of year.

“We kept our composure,” Moultrie said. “It’s a veteran group. They just kept their heads up. We survived that late run and moved on.”

Added sophomore Ricky Parks, whose strong inside play gave the Cavs a big lift: “We just tried to keep our heads up when they started making all those threes. We just had to make some plays.”

Quan Bray, who had three 3-pointers in the first quarter, led Callaway with 15 points, while Rutledge and Quantavius Leslie scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Parks and Terrance Jackson had nine points apiece, with Jackson making 7-of-8 from the free-throw line