The King’s Fork High School boys’ basketball team’s path to tonight’s Region 4A South semifinal game was a difficult one.

The Bulldogs encountered a stiff challenge in the form of visiting Caroline High School on Tuesday in a regional opening round game that came down to the wire. King’s Fork played good defense and hit enough free throws late to produce a 64-62 win.

“We’re just very fortunate enough to get through to the next round,” Bulldogs coach Josh Worrell said.

King’s Fork played from behind for most of the first quarter, but made it close by the end of the period. The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the second quarter, led 35-29 at halftime and extended that lead to 40-29 during the third period.

Worrell said he told his players they held the sizable lead because “we were playing good, hard defense.”

Then the Cavaliers went on an 11-1 run, shrinking the Bulldogs’ lead to 41-40.

“They lost focus, I believe,” Worrell said of his players.

In an attempt to make clear to them the brand of teams they would be facing from here on out, he said he told them, “Nobody’s going to give up. They don’t want their season to end.”

In the fourth quarter, Caroline actually went up 53-50.

It remained a one to two point game for a bit after that until King’s Fork was able to claim a five-point advantage.

The Cavaliers cut into the lead with a free throw, then later drew a foul while making a layup. They completed the three-point play to make the score 61-60 with around 30 seconds remaining.

Bulldogs senior guard Tyese Pressley hit one of two free throws to make its 62-60, and King’s Fork followed this up with good defense on Caroline, getting the ball back and drawing a foul.

“Keith Stagg made two free throws with 10 seconds left,” Worrell said, as the junior guard gave his team all the points it would need to win.

The Cavaliers missed a long range three-pointer with five seconds to go. Caroline rebounded, but the Bulldogs were willing to allow a two-pointer, rather than foul, so the last seconds could drain off the clock.

Stagg led King’s Fork with 22 points to go with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Senior forward Dale Roscoe contributed 10 points, six boards, three blocks and three steals, while junior center Chris Roscoe added 12 points.

Weather permitting, the Bulldogs (17-8) will host Lake Taylor High School in the regional semifinals tonight at 7 p.m.

It will be the Titans’ second trip to the Kennel this season. They participated in the Bulldog Showcase on Jan. 17 and handed the Bulldogs a 58-41 loss to close out the event.

But Worrell noted his team has improved since then. “We don’t turn the ball over as much,” he said.