By DOUG DONNELLY

ERIE – Luke Henegar broke open a close game with three consecutive triples on a perfect shooting night to lead Whiteford to a 63-47 win and a share of the Tri-County Conference championship.

Henegar came off the bench and scored 18 points in the second half.

The Bobcats led 33-31 at halftime and trailed 34-33 early in the third quarter. A free throw and inside bucket by Cole Griffth made it 36-34 and Henegar connected on a triple to make it 39-34. The Eagles pulled within 41-38 inside of a minute left in the quarter but two Henegar free throws and a Keegan Thomas basket at the buzzer made it 45-38 going into the final quarter.

Any hopes the Eagles had of coming back were spoiled by Henegar’s 11 fourth quarter points.

“I just had a lot of confidence,” Henegar said. “The shots were falling and it felt good. We knew it was going to be a tough place to come and win but we wanted the league title.”

Henegar made all six of his floor shots and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

“He was able to give us a huge boost and allowed us to extend our lead,” Whiteford coach Jordan Bollin.

Bollin, in his first season at Whiteford, was able to celebrate his first conference championship.

“I love coaching these guys,” Bollin said. “They are an outstanding group. They do the right things and really play their roles. Every guy has a role.”

He credited the defense for shutting down Mason in the second half, holding them to just five field goals and 16 points.

“I challenged our guys to come out and find another gear defensively and they did,” Bollin said.

Whiteford finished 10-2 in the TCC, sharing the championship with Lenawee Christian.

Griffith finished with 17 points as Whiteford improved to 17-3 overall.

The two teams combined to commit 49 fouls and shoot 50 free throws. Three players fouled out.

The TCC title was the 10th all-time for Whiteford, but first since 2017-18. The others were in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2003 and 2012. Whiteford also won a River Raisin Conference championship in 1968.

WHITEFORD 19 14 11 18 – 63

ERIE MASON 16 15 7 9 – 47

WHITEFORD: Andrews 2 2-5 6, Schroyer 2 0-0 4, Joerin 2(2) 0-0 6, D. Ruddy 0 2-6 2, Henegar 6(5) 4-4 21, Griffith 6 5-13 17, Thomas 1 0-0 2, B. Ruddy 1 3-4 5. Totals 20(7) 16-32 63.

ERIE MASON: Sweeney 4(3) 0-0 11, Herrera 1 4-6 6, Cannon 1 1-2 3, Doom 2(1) 0-0 5, Williams 0 0-2 0, Moore 3(3) 0-0 9, Wise 2(1) 0-0 5, Langenderfer 2 2-6 6, May 0 0-2 0, Hutson 1 0-0 2. Totals 16(8) 7-18 47.