The THS boys basketball team was continuing its late-season push against Baldwin, the No. 4 team in Class 4A and a squad the Chieftains lost to by 17 roughly three weeks ago.

Tonganoxie came into the game winning at home against Louisburg (55-48) and on the road at Paola (51-48).

That Paola victory was even sweeter considering that THS won on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Lachlan McRae.

Against Baldwin, THS led for much of the game and answered Baldwin rally after Baldwin rally.

And then came the closing seconds.

THS was up, 50-44, after Talon Langford sank the back end of a 2-shot foul on the free-throw line with about 21.9 seconds left.

Baldwin’s Cooper Carr came down the court and sank a three-pointer the with 14.5 seconds left in the game.

On Tonganoxie’s ensuing possession, McRae had trouble passing to a teammate and instead found Carr, who shot another three from about the same spot at the elbow in front of the BHS bench. McRae tried to defend the shot, but fouled Carr in the process with 7 seconds left. The shot tied the game and then Carr went to the line with a chance to put Baldwin ahead for the first time since the first quarter.

THS coach RC Simmons called a timeout after the made bucket, and then Carr stepped to the free-throw line. His shot eventually rattled in for the Bulldogs.

Tonganoxie had a chance to sink buzzer-beating three’s two games in a row, but Owen Schmidt’s three-pointer just missed. The ball hit the rim and the backboard before bouncing away.

Baldwin moved to 16-3 on the season, while THS dropped to 5-14.

Talon Langford scored a game-high 15, while Jayson Byrne had 6, Noah Carlton 9, Antony Roe 4, McRae 5 and Schmidt 11.

McRae scored a game-high 24 in that victory against Paola.

Tonganoxie finished up the regular season Tuesday at undefeated Ottawa (19-0). The game took place after The Mirror’s print deadline.