RURAL MIDDLE POINT — St. John’s seemed to be firmly in control, leading 55-45 with three minutes left.

Someone forgot to tell Lincolnview that it was over.

They closed the game with 11 straight points, including 1-of-2 free throws from Kaleb Baucom (14 markers) with 2.6 seconds remaining, to seize a 56-55 triumph over the Blue Jays Saturday night in “The Lancerdome.”

“We didn’t do anything different. These guys just continued to play hard; we got a couple of stops, a couple of key rebounds and turnovers and got it done,” Lancer coach Mike Bute began.

The Blue Jays (4-12), despite leading scorer Kazz Bryan (16.9 per game) being held pointless to that time due to foul trouble and Lincolnview’s 1-3-1 zone, commenced the quarter in front 45-40. With Bryan (5 boards, 5 assists) getting seven markers, the Jays pulled to that 10-point spread on his basket with 3:00 showing and Bute called time at 2:58. Two Kory Thatcher (11 points, 4 boards) singles at 2:51 started the rally.

The Jays also committed consecutive miscues (13 total), missed two ill-advised shots and two front ends of the bonus and Bryan fouled out with 56.2 ticks left. The hosts (7-9) took full advantage. Baucom hit a leaner with 25 ticks remaining that knotted the score at 55. The Jays then made a costly error under their own basket, with Baucom getting a steal and a layup attempt in the other direction but was fouled. He hit the first of the two throws. Austin Paxson (13 markers, 4 treys) got the carom and his 70-footer came awfully close but was off the mark as the horn sounded.

“We lost our poise. We had a couple of unforced turnovers,” St. John’s coach Doug Etgen explained. “Even up four and six and Lincolnview needing to start fouling, we took two absolutely unnecessary shots. Then you have to hit your free throws. We just did not maintain our poise. That’s part of the learning process for young kids; this could be a positive if we learn from it. Still, it’s bitterly disappointing to lose this game.”

The Jays lost despite shooting 50 percent from the floor — 17-of-34, including 8-of-17 beyond the 19-9 arc. Tony Reindel added 12 counters to the cause.

Lincolnview answered with 19-of-43 shooting (7-of-21 downtown) for 44.2 percent.

With the Jays playing a 2-3 zone the entire way, Lincolnview dialed long distance in the first period. Kade Pollock (13 markers) found the left corner to his liking, nailing three treys in the canto, as the Lancers led 16-11 before Cameron Hermiller (7 assists) hit two free throws with 4.8 ticks on the board made it 16-13.

Baucom missed the last 5:38 with two fouls.

Jordan Simpson (14 points, 4 bombs), off the Lancer bench, scored eight of the Lancers’ 12 markers in period 2. There were three lead changes in the quarter, with Simpson’s 3-ball from the left corner with 5.1 seconds left handing the hosts a 28-26 halftime edge.

Bryan missed the last 3:33 with his second infraction.

He would pick up his third and fourth fouls by the 3:03 mark of the third and was banished to the bench until 5:36 remaining on the night. Still, the Jays, with Reindel downing nine markers, canned 6-of-7 shots and 5-of-8 at the line (13-of-19 total for 68.4 percent). Reindel’s duck-under move with 26.3 seconds showing accounting for a 45-40 lead.

“We felt in great position at that point, with Kazz not having scored. We just couldn’t finish,” Etgen added. “We had played three straight solid games and were looking to continue that; we’ve been starting to click offensively. Outside of the last three minutes, we did tonight. Again, it’s all part of the learning process, especially for our young guys. I told the kids after the game to not hang their heads and bounce back.”

St. John’s grabbed 25 caroms (5 offensive) and amassed 15 fouls. They pay a visit to Coldwater Friday.

“We did not shoot well at all Friday night (vs. Crestview). The kids did a great job of bouncing back from that to get a good win against a good team,” Bute cocluded. “We were so concerned with Bryan; we adjusted our 1-3-1 to defend him on the baseline. We didn’t always get out to their shooters, like Paxson, but you sometimes have to take your chances. We kept Bryan out of the paint, which was our game plan.”

The Lancers netted 11-of-13 at the line (84.6 percent); grabbed 20 rebounds (6 offensive) as Danny Brincefield had five; and compiled 15 fouls and a mere nine miscues. They visit Bluffton Friday.

In JV play, St. John’s (11-5) hit 5-of-6 singles in the final 41.8 ticks to outlast the Lancers (8-8) 49-45.

Eric Buettner topped the guests with 10. Austin Miller countered with 10.