The 3rd time was almost not the charm for Dutch Fork boys' basketball.
The Silver Foxes had 2 previous opportunities to clinch the Region 5-5A title and avoid a 1-game playoff game Friday with River Bluff for the top seed. 
With 1.7 seconds left and holding a 46-45 lead at Chapin Thursday, the Dutch Fork players and head coach Brett Jones could only watch as Eagles guard Kenya Jones stood at the free-throw line. Jones had 2 free throws following a technical called on Dutch Fork's Jones for tossing his clipboard on the floor after he thought the clock should have run out following Octavius Smith's steal of the inbounds pass. 
Instead of tying the game or putting the Eagles ahead, Jones missed both attempts. Henry Haigler's running jumper at the buzzer missed its mark and Dutch Fork escaped with the 1-point win and 2nd straight Region 5-5A title.
The win gave the defending Class 5A Lower State champion Silver Foxes (9-2, 6-2) a 1st round home game Tuesday against West Ashley. As the 2nd seed, River Bluff travels to Fort Dorchester.
"I want to practice," said Jones about the prospect of ending a 2nd straight regular season with a 1-game playoff against River Bluff. "I want to practice. We're take practice tomorrow, take Saturday off and take practice Sunday and Monday. We need practice right now for everybody." 
Houston Jones made his return for Dutch Fork and led the team with 11 points. Smith finished with 10 points and had the key steal.
Dutch Fork led 38-29 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Chapin mounted its comeback with an 9-1 run to get within 39-38 with 2:41 remaining in the game. 
Jones scored all 6 of his points in the 4th quarter for the Eagles, including a 2nd 3-pointer to put Chapin on top 43-42. Lawson Davis had a game-high 13 points for the Eagles. 
After a Dutch Fork miss, Jarvis Green had a steal and layup to put Dutch Fork back on top with 56.6 seconds left.
A left-handed tip-in by Haigler, who finished with 10 points, regained the lead at 45-44 for the Eagles with 16.3 seconds left. Jordan Snipe-Campbell was fouled driving to the basket with 4 seconds left and made both free throws.
Following a timeout, the inbounds pass by Chapin's Cooper Raines by was stolen by Davis. Time remained on the clock as Trace Danley was fouled, but Davis was sent to the free-throw line after the technical foul.
The missed front end of the 1-and-1 by Davis provided the opening for Chapin to play 'spoiler' in the region for the 2nd straight game and 3rd with assistant coach Peter Wilkinson at the helm in place of suspended head coach Marquett Carr. Instead, the Eagles came up empty and the Silver Foxes could finally celebrate the program's 3rd region title and 1st back-to-back championships.
"I'm glad we're laying the foundation for many more years to come," Jones said.  

Lexington 52, Wilson 51
Freshman Cam Scott scored 12 of his game-high 22 points and Zavier Measmer finished with 12 points, including 6-6 in free throws, to lift the Wildcats to a 4th straight win to end the season.
Lexington finished with an 11-5 record.
Imah Phillips had 10 points for the Tigers.