PONTIAC >> Notre Dame Prep claimed its fourth district championship in five years with a hard-fought 55-52 win over host Pontiac Friday night.

“That was a fun one. It definitely lived up to the expectations. That was fine, no question about it,” Fighting Irish head coach Whitney Robinson said. “We have a good group of seniors. We just finish games better, and that was on full display tonight.”

The Fighting Irish took the lead for good, 49-48, on a straightaway 3-pointer from Sam Stowe with about two minutes to play. Seniors Colin Whalen and Joey DeCasas finished it off down the stretch, making just enough shots — and just enough free throws — to keep the Phoenix at bay.

“I’m happy we got to experience this game early because this is how it’s going to be every game,” DeCasas said. “But I’m really happy for me and my teammates. We all fought out there, and I’m really proud of them.”

“It was a tough game. They (Pontiac) are really good,” Whalen said. “It’s awesome. It’s my first district title. It feels good.”The game had entered the fourth quarter tied 38-38. Notre Dame Prep split the fourth quarter scoring fairly evenly between Stowe, Whalen, and DeCasas. One or more of them seemed to be constantly involved in every play the Fighting Irish made in the final period.

For Pontiac, it was largely the Jaiden Price show in the fourth quarter. Price scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as he tried to will his team to victory, and he nearly did.

Ultimately, however, Notre Dame Prep had just a little more size and a little more depth, and took advantage down the stretch, dominating the boards and turning those rebounds into points in the final quarter.

Overall, Pontiac was led by a game-high 20 points from sophomore Jeremiah Claudio. Price had 18 points, and DaKaria Warren turned in a tough, productive game inside. He notched 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks against the superior size of Notre Dame Prep.

The Fighting Irish were able to spread things around a bit more. Whalen and Stowe each had 15 points for Notre Dame Prep. DeCasas added nine points, and Nicholas Fandino chipped in seven points as seven different players got in the scoring column for Notre Dame Prep, compared to just four players scoring for the Phoenix.

The game had started at breakneck speed, with the teams scoring at will at times in the first quarter, which ended with the Phoenix up 19-15. Notre Dame Prep took the lead early in the second period and led most of the rest of the way. The biggest lead for Fighting Irish was seven points, 38-31, late in the third quarter, but the Phoenix cranked up the defense in what was already an energetic game from both teams, and closed the third on a 7-0 run, capped by a spectacular three-point play by Claudio that tied the game by the quarter’s end.

“We started off strong. It was a back-and-forth game. They executed more than us at the end. It’s how basketball works sometimes,” Phoenix head coach Dequan Washington said.

Notre Dame Prep (12-10) now advances to regionals at Yale High School on Tuesday where the Irish will face Center Line.

Pontiac finishes the year 14-10 under first-year coach DeQuan Washington. The Phoenix will graduate just two seniors and should return nine players from this year’s team.

“Overall, it was a great season for the guys,” Washington said. “We had two seniors, so we’re coming back with almost the same team, plus a few more. So we should be better and stronger for next year.”