“I think it was the best-case scenario,” Burton said of weathering the early injury and leading at intermission. “We hadn’t lost all season after leading at halftime. All three
losses we had before this we were behind at half.”

Without the offense Williams provided in the paint, the Bruins had to rely on their perimeter shooting. Seniors Travais Hylton (two) and Michael Abrahams combined to sink three treys in the third quarter, but Northport got six points from Petrasek and four apiece from Milligan and Andrew Seaman to take a 36-33 lead into the fourth.

The Tigers matched the game’s biggest lead of four points — 38-34 — early in the fourth before baskets by Bembury and Hylton tied it and senior Elijah McMillan vaulted the Bruins in front with a bucket with 2:48 to go.

Baldwin was that close to overcoming increased odds and getting to Glens Falls. 

“We wanted to win it for Jordan, and we gave it our best shot,” Burton said.