There was every indication Tuesday night would be another rivalry game between the Helias Crusaders and the Jefferson City Jays that was going to come down to the final minutes.
Through the first three quarters, the game featured six ties and six lead changes, with neither team leading by more than six points.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
Helias outscored Jefferson City 18-6 in the game's final eight minutes, completing the season sweep with a 55-39 win at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"I really loved the way we played in the third quarter, we just didn't finish shots," Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said. "I loved the way we played earlier, we just weren't finishing shots.
"We were too hesitant to run in the first half when we were creating some turnovers and get some easy looks. In the second half, we were able to do that. We got out and got some easy baskets."
Helias' defense forced 19 turnovers against the Jays, who committed four turnovers in the game's first three minutes.
"We just turned it over way too much in the first half," Jays coach Mark Anderson said. "We'd get good shots, but we just made some bad decisions. We left our feet way too much to make a pass."
Jefferson City had six turnovers in the first quarter, and five more in the second. Still, the Jays managed to head to the locker room with the score tied at 22.
"When we got shots, we had pretty good shots," said Anderson, whose team shot 45 percent from the field in the first half. " We just didn't get enough shots. A lot of the turnovers were unforced turnovers."
Helias led by six points late in the first quarter, but the Jays got a 3-pointer from Sterling DeSha from the right wing to close the gap to 12-9 by the end of the quarter.
DeSha opened the second with another 3 to tie the game, and Brennan Jeffries scored off an inbounds pass with 3:21 left in the first half, giving the Jays their first lead of the game at 16-15.
It would be back and forth the rest of the first half. Helias' Nick Brandt drove the lane for a layup with :17 left to tie the score entering halftime.
In the third quarter, the Jays got back-to-back baskets early from Michael Appiah-Brefo and Ryan Brooks to hold a 28-24 advantage, their largest lead of the game.
But it was all Helias after that.
The Crusaders forced three straight turnovers, leading to a pair of layups by Brandt. An 8-0 run put Helias on top 32-28.
"I think we got them uncomfortable," Rothweiler said. "We did that the first time we played them and got up nine, but we shot ourselves in the foot about three possessions in a row.
"We talked pregame about how if we get a lead, we have to be smarter and execute on offense. We had seven turnovers tonight, so our guys did a great job of taking care of the basketball."
Brandt closed the third with a drive and a reverse layup with :04 left to make the score 37-33.
"Nick made a huge play at the end of the third quarter," Rothweiler said.
Appiah-Brefo scored inside during the opening minute of the fourth quarter, pulling the Jays within two. But Jefferson City shot 1-of-9 from the field the rest of the game.
Isaac Johnson hit a deep 3-pointer to extend the Helias lead to 42-35. Johnson finished with 12 points, shooting 4-of-10 from 3.
"It's all about spacing and the extra pass," Rothweiler said. " Isaac always finds a way to get open and knock down a couple of big ones."
Helias stretched its lead to double digits with 4:51 to play. Forced to foul, the Jays sent Brandt to the free-throw line three times, facing a one-and-one each time.
Brandt made all six free throws, stretching the lead to 55-38 with 1:14 to play.
"I've been terrible from the free-throw line this year," said Brandt, who scored a game-high 18 points. "I was surprised when I hit all six of them."
Ben Cooper also reached double figures with 10 points for Helias (12-10), which plays at home the rest of the regular season. Up next for the Crusaders is a game against Borgia on Friday.
"Maybe we can continue to play out this good basketball down the stretch and carry it over into the playoffs," Rothweiler said.
Brooks had 13 points to lead the Jays, while Appiah-Brefo finished with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Jefferson City (10-13), which has dropped five of its last six games, hosts Poplar Bluff on Saturday.
"We've got to get back on track," Anderson said. " We've got to find a way to stop the bleeding."