The Cumberland Valley Christian Blazers mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter and defeated Heritage Academy 50-46 in overtime Tuesday evening in a Mason-Dixon Christian Conference boys basketball game, the Blazers’ fifth straight win.

“After only scoring nine points in the first half, I really challenged the guys at halftime to wake up and start competing,” Blazers coach Austin Sanders said. “They took that challenge, and we were able to go on a run in the fourth quarter. Converting our free throws was huge, especially in the fourth quarter and overtime.”

The Blazers (10-11, 7-5 MDCC) trailed 19-9 after a lackluster first half, which included a two-point second quarter, and were down 32-21 at the end of three. Behind 34-24, the Blazers went on an 11-0 burst to take the lead.

Blaine Minnier, who went 5-for-6 from 3-point distance and led the Blazers with 20 points, scored 10 of those points in the 22-point final period. Caleb Eckert, who scored 15 points, snared 16 rebounds, blocked six shots and handed out five assists, added six fourth-period points, including four clutch free throws.

The Blazers led 43-40 after Eckert made the second of a two-shot foul, but Heritage’s Tyler Horst fired in a 3-pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime.

Eckert gave the Blazers the lead in overtime by hitting four straight free throws to make the score 49-46. He wound up 8-for-10 from the line.

The outcome was still in doubt until Minnier made a foul shot with 2.6 seconds remaining to provide the final four-point cushion.

“I’m just proud of how these guys never gave up, especially after Heritage hit two step-back threes to ultimately send it to overtime,” Sanders said. “Our team had no doubt that we were going to win this game. We talk a lot about getting better every day and playing our best basketball in February. These guys are putting things together and working as a team, which is building confidence, and it’s the perfect time to have that kind of confidence.”

Also for the Blazers, Isaac Kauffeldt scored all five of his points in the fourth quarter. Triston Horn and Nathan Statler added four points each, and Kenneth Hott scored a bucket and dished out six assists.

Horst scored 17 points and Daniel Hendershot added 11 for Heritage, which lost for only the third time in the league this year (two to unbeaten Broadfording).