The Pinecrest boys sewed up their second Southeastern Conference basketball title in a row with a thrilling 88-85 victory at Hoke County Friday night.

The Patriots (20-4, 9-1) trailed by as many as nine points early in the fourth quarter, and by four with 15.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Phillip Wallace cut the deficit in half with a pair of free throws. After the Bucks missed a pair at their end, the Pats’ Antonio Jones rushed up court and tried a three for the win.

Jones missed, but the long rebound went back to Wallace at the top of the key. The senior had a clear path to the rim and laid it in, tying the score at 76-76 as time expired.

The Patriots took an 81-80 lead in overtime when Adam Cummings went 1-for-2 at the line. Moments later Wallace whipped a pass into Traivon Williams for a layup that made it 83-80. Wallace then made another pair at the foul line for an 85-80 lead with 50 seconds remaining.

It was 86-85 Patriots with 15 seconds left when Wallace went back to the charity stripe again. He made both for the final points of the game. The Bucks got two shots off before Cummings grabbed the final rebound as time ran out.

More than 50 fouls were called and more than 70 free throws were taken in the game. Three Buck players and two Patriots fouled out, including Faronte’ Drakeford who scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Also in double figures for the Patriots were Marshall Smith with 22 points and Wallace with 15. Tim Haggie led the Bucks (11-10, 7-3) with 26.

Pinecrest goes into next week’s conference tournament as the No. 1 seed and receives a first round bye.