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A clutch performance at the free-throw line late in the game and timely defensive stops to match carried Viewmont to a 52-49 victory over visiting Davis in a 5A Region 2 matchup Friday night.

The Vikings (11-5, 5-1 Region 2) led by as many as 15 points in the second half, but withstood a valiant rally from the Darts (12-4, 4-2) that led to thrilling final minutes.

"I've thought about this since I was a little kid," said Vikings senior guard Adam Funk, who sank three of four free throws in the game's final minute. "I grew up in gyms imagining that play over and over with a big crowds and everyone's into the game — a tight game — and I've gotta knock these down.

"I went up there with confidence."

Funk, who scored seven points for the game, gave the Vikings a 50-46 lead with 12 seconds left in the game as he made a pair at the line.

His trip to the foul line came after fellow senior Jared Stringham earned possession and called timeout clutching a loose ball off a 3-point miss from Davis guard Braxton Taylor. Funk was fouled when he caught the ensuing inbound pass.

Darts guard Cade Whicker then drilled a deep 3-pointer to bring Davis to 50-49 with 2 seconds to play.

Weston Taylor was fouled after catching the inbound pass and, like Funk, calmly made the game-clinching free throws with 1.3 seconds to play.

Taylor's desperation attempt from midcourt was off-target as time expired.

"Our guys competed so hard in the second half to give us a chance to win," said Davis coach Chad Sims. "We had two good looks and if one of those goes in, maybe we're singing a different story."

Viewmont converted 10 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, as Davis broke even and took its first lead of the game, 44-43, on Brendon Redford's two free throws with 1:08 left in the game.

The Vikings responded immediately. Junior guard Josh Mordue, sporting a clear plastic face mask protecting a broken nose, cut to the basket behind the Darts' defense and converted Chandler Cox's bounce pass for a 45-44 lead with :56 seconds left.

Tyson Garff's two free throws took back the lead for Davis before another key sequence from the injured Mordue. With 40 seconds left he drove the baseline from left to right, launching himself at the basket and drawing a hard blocking foul which left him sprawled out on the floor.

The Viking reserve quickly gathered himself and his two free throws regained the lead for Viewmont at 47-46, setting up the final heroics for his teammates.

"We had some guys foul out so we had to step up in that moment," said Mordue, whose injury occurred during the holidays requires the face mask. —

Viewmont 52, Davis 49

R Viewmont goes 10 of 12 on free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off Davis.

• The Vikings lead by as many as 15 points in the second half before the Darts rally to make it a close finish.

• Josh Mordue leads Viewmont with 14 points, and Lewis Johnson adds 10.