The fifth-seeded Blair boys basketball team built an 11-point halftime advantage, but couldn't hold on Tuesday night at Norris High School.
As a result, the fourth-seeded Titans won the teams' first-round Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) Tournament matchup, 41-38. The Bears (7-7 overall) scored just 13 second-half points, while Norris (7-8) notched 27.
The conference foes traded leads back-and-forth during the first period before coach Chris Whitwer's BHS squad scored the last four of the quarter. Nolan Slominski assisted Toby Ray to two points before Luke Ladwig's buzzer-beating drive to the basket gave the Bears a 13-10 advantage.
The Blair lead grew during the second period during a 10-0 run. J'shawn Unger started the streak with a free throw before he, Ladwig and Tupa all knocked down 3-pointers.
The Bears led 25-14 at the break, but the home team hadn't thrown in the towel. Norris outscored BHS 11-7 during the third period and finally took the lead back with just 1:35 left in the fourth. The Titans hadn't led since 10-9 during the first period.
Down 39-38, the Bears attempted to regain the lead, but none of their shots fell. Ladwig led the team with 13 points, while both Jacob Czapla and Sawyer Lawton scored seven.
Barret Boesiger led Norris with 13 points and Wyatt Wubbels had 12.
Blair was scheduled to face Elkhorn North on Thursday for fifth in the EMC. Results will be published in Tuesday's Washington County Pilot-Tribune.
