BAY MINETTE — The Fairhope Pirates led by as many as 13 points in the first half Friday night, but the Baldwin County Tigers fought back for a 63-60 win, sending them to Monday’s 6A Area 3 tournament championship game.

The Tigers will play Daphne at 7 p.m. Monday at BCHS for the area championship.

Missed free throws down the stretch by the Pirates turned out to be their downfall late in the fourth quarter. Up by one with under a minute to play the Pirates missed three consecutive free throws setting up a huge moment for Baldwin County senior Xavier Dortch.

With 10 seconds remaining and the Pirates leading by two Dortch stepped back and drained a three-pointer from the top of the key giving the Tigers a one point lead.

After a Pirate timeout speedster Nate Andrews attempted to drive the ball coast to coast. After a failed lay-up as time expired and the Tiger crowd jubilant, the officials came together and came to decision that Andrews was fouled bringing him to the line for a one-and-one attempt.

With seven seconds put back on the clock Andrews missed the front end of the one-and-one eventually leading to the three-point win for the Tigers after they made two free throws to ice the contest.

In a game that had controversy, hard gritty play and clutch shooting the Tigers were able to overcome that early adversity and advance to play the second seeded Daphne Trojans in the finals.

“It was heart, and a will to win. They are not going to give up and I will never question that. Heart, guts, and will,” Tiger head coach Lorenzo Hunter said.

On a night when the Tigers lived and died from behind the arc, they hit a total of 10 three-pointers including six in the second half. Dortch hit five of the teams 10 three’s and four of those came in the second half.

“That’s what we have to do. Our guys are perimeter players and we are going to shoot the ball,” Hunter said. “I ask them to play defense, but I will never handicap my team by not shooting the basketball. We are going to shoot the basketball.”

Dortch led the way in scoring for the Tigers with 17 points. Senior Justin Mayes finished with 16 while senior Andre Cox was the other player who finished in double figures with 11.

The Pirates had a big night scoring with five players scoring in double figures.

Senior Rushing Watson finished with a team high 16 while Andrews finished his final game with 14.

With the win the Tigers guarantee themselves a shot at not only the finals; but a spot in the sub-regionals as well. A win in the area finals on Monday would guarantee a home game in the next round.

“The great thing is we are going to play again regardless because of tonight,” Hunter said. “We would love to play at home and we plan on playing at home.”