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OGDEN — Down by a point to Murray with just a couple seconds left, Bountiful’s Zac Seljaas had no other option than to hoist up a 3-point shot.
Seljaas’ shot rang true, and the buzzer-beater proved to be the exclamation point in a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback for the Braves as Bountiful climbed to a narrow 58-56 win over the Murray Spartans in the opening round of the 4A tournament at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
Murray opened up a 16-9 lead after the first quarter and held a five-point lead after the third quarter.
The Spartans would lead by as many as 13, when they held a 50-37 advantage with 6:03 to go in the game. However, the Braves took over, closing the game on a 21-6 run.
Bountiful's Seljaas scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Seljaas played a vital role in the win besides hitting the buzzer-beater. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter — part of a 30-point performance in the game. Seljaas and teammate Jeff Pollard combined for 47 of the Braves’ points.
Bountiful shot 52.4 percent in the second half (11-of-21), while Murray bested the Braves, making 12-of-22 attempts. However, it was Bountiful’s advantage at the 3-point line that made a difference as the Braves made 5-of-10 compared to the Spartans’ 2-of-8, in the second half.
The Braves advance to face Spanish Fork in a 4A quarterfinals game at the Dee Events Center Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.