Cherokee controlled the game for almost 4 full quarters. But in the end it was the almost that proved their undoing. Swain pulled to within 2 points with 2 minutes to play following a Raymius Smith 3 pointer from just in front of the student section. One possession later it was Smith again with a driving basket that tied the game at 46-46. Matthew Maennle made a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left to give Swain a 2 point lead, their first lead of the game. Seth Little john made good on two free throws with no time remaining to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In overtime Maennle and Clay Young scored 6 points each as the Devils outscore the Braves 18-7 to take a thrilling 64-53 win in front of a packed house.
Box score
| Cherokee vs. Swain |
Cherokee (53)
Jesse Toineeta 4-7 0-0 8, Brandt Sutton 2-3 0-0 4, Seth Littlejohn 3-12 7-8 13, Raven Frankiewicz 4-11 2-7 10, Darius Thompson 3-11 0-2 6, Dustin Johnson 4-9 0-0 8, Jalen Lossiah 0-0 0-0 0, Eli Littlejohn 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 22-59 9-17 53
Swain (64)
Cody Epps 0-0 0-0 0, Matthew Maennle 7-18 8-10 23, Clay Young 6-7 0-1 12, Greg Tisho 3-9 0-0 7, Raymius Smith 4-13 3-4 12, Jamy Oocuma 0-2 2-2 2, Tanner Burrell 0-2 0-0 0, Corbin Panther 3-13 2-4 8. Totals 23-64 15-21 64
| SCORE BY PERIODS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT1 | TOTAL |
| Cherokee | 18 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 53 |
| Swain | 13 | 12 | 6 | 17 | 16 | 64 |
FG%: Cherokee .373, Swain .359. 3-pt FG:Cherokee 0-10 (Littlejohn 0-5, Thompson 0-3, Johnson 0-2), Swain 3-19 (Maennle 1-7, Tisho 1-2, Smith 1-6, Oocuma 0-1, Burrell 0-2, Panther 0-1). Rebounds: Cherokee 44 (TEAM 26), Swain 40 (TEAM 29). Fouls Cherokee 14, Swain 17. Fouled out: Tisho Smith . Technical: none. Assists: Cherokee 1 (Sutton 1), Swain 2 (Tisho 1, Smith 1). Steals: Cherokee 2 (Toineeta 1, Johnson 1), Swain 3 (Tisho 1, Smith 1, Oocuma 1). Blocked shots: Cherokee 1 (Littlejohn 1), Swain 1 (Tisho 1). Turnovers: Cherokee 7, Swain 8. Attendance: 0.