Then the Bulldogs turned the table on the dealer. Turns out, they needed only 23 seconds to erase that deficit with Tucker Hanna draining a clutch, game-tying 3-pointer at the 12-second mark. Then a Hollywood ending took place.

Except it was Shikellamy celebrating. Justin Zeigler drilled his sixth 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left, Landon Lathan’s full-court heave just missed, and the Braves edged Jersey Shore, 59-56. The furious rally highlighted Jersey Shore’s character but it was the first 31 minutes which hurt the most.

“We know if there is time on the clock we have a chance,” Hanna said after scoring a career-high 21 points, including the team’s last five. “We just have to do better and not be in that situation to begin with. We had them in the first half and we let it go.”

That is true. Jersey Shore started strong and led 20-11 early in the second quarter. Zeigler, however, started going Curry that quarter, connecting on three 3-pointers and Shikellamy cut it to four before taking a two-point lead into the final quarter.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Khani Mccray (2) shoots over Shikellamy's defense in the second quarter.

Following Hanna’s game-tying shot, Aaron Bucher sprinted up court but ran out of room along the baseline as two defenders trapped him. He kicked the ball toward the top of the key, and it was almost stolen but a quick Charlie Walter dish to Zeigler along the right wing made it all work. Zeigler capped his sensational night with the game-winning dagger, closing with a game-high 23 points.

“I was very proud of them in the last minute there. I told them, unfortunately, it takes the first 31 minutes, not just the last minute,” Jersey Shore coach Jon Boob said. “The last minute is fun, it’s great and I don’t want to lose that, but we have to figure out these first 31 minutes.

“It might be the 100th time I’ve said it, but I’ve never coached a team that plays as hard as our team plays. They’re just resilient and they fight hard.”

That was most evident after Shikellamy scored six straight points and led 56-49. Landon Lathan dealt the eighth of his nine assists, finding Breylan Guerrero inside and cutting it to five with 34.1 seconds left. Jacob Lorson then made a steal and Hanna fought for an offensive rebound, scored off a putback and made it a three-point game.

The Bulldogs nearly had another steal in the backcourt, but Guerrero helped the next best thing happen. The relentless hustler dove after the ball and forced a jump ball which gave Jersey Shore possession. Boob called timeout, set up a play for Lorson and watched the team brilliantly execute it.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ty McDermit (33) shoots over Shikellamy's Corbin Stahl (5) in the first quarter.

Hanna popped open on the right wing, Lathan hit him with a perfect pass and Hanna caught it in rhythm, hitting nothing but net as Jersey Shore tied the game.

“I was shooting well, and coach drew it up for me and I was able to knock it down,” Hanna said. “There was just too much time left on the clock. That hurts.”

Hanna inflicted pain on Shikellamy, 8-7, playing his best offensive game and doing damage both inside and on the perimeter. The senior forward scored seven of his 21 points in the third quarter and made 9 of his 14 shots, including 6 of 7 in the second half.

“Tonight was a huge game for Tucker. I watched him all offseason shoot the lights out,” Boob said. “We set up plays in certain scenarios for him to get open and take shots throughout the year, and people think I’m crazy because his shot has been off. Tonight, he showed he really has it in him. He just has to bring it out. I’m hoping this is a good burst for him.”

Jersey Shore looked ready to collectively erupt early, going up 20-11 just eight seconds into the second quarter. At that point, the Bulldogs had made 9 of 10 shots from the field with six players scoring. From there, however, Jersey Shore went cold for the next two quarters and Zeigler heated up, scoring 11 points in the second quarter as the momentum switched. The Braves led throughout the second half, but Jersey Shore fought back from four down and went ahead 44-42 on a Lorson to Carson Watkins connection and, 46-45 on a Watkins drive with 4:46 remaining.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Carson Watkins (0) breaks up a pass intended for Shikellamy's Corbin Stahl (5) which was recovered by Shore's (5) for a steal in the second quarter.

A Lorson free throw pushed the lead to two, but the game again swung when Jersey Shore surrendered an offensive rebound. Bucher was fouled and a technical was called on the Bulldogs. The extra free throws, plus a driving basket on the extra possession gave Shikellamy a 49-47 advantage and Jersey Shore never led again.

It was a microcosm of how the game played out. Jersey Shore executed some terrific aspects but also lapsed in others and that ultimately cost it.

“We just have to clean it up,” Hanna said. “The third quarters have been hurting us all year and we can’t let that happen.”

“A lot of it is focus; being in the right spots defensively,” Boob said. “It’s never energy or hustle. We’re always doing that. It’s just the basics of doing the right things at the right times.”

That is part of the growing process. Jersey Shore made a remarkable turnaround last year, going from eight wins in four years to 13 and the playoffs. They climbed half the mountain but getting up that next half is harder because the air grows thinner and more obstacles are encountered.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Landon Lathan (15) shoots in front of Shikellamy's Aaron Bucher (1) in the first quarter.

Jersey Shore is not running from those obstacles, it just knows it needs to put all the pieces together to make its final push. The signs were encouraging against Shikellamy as Jersey Shore effectively moved the ball and piled up 20 assists. Seven players scored and Guerrero made three steals, while Lorson pulled down five rebounds, Watkins scored eight points and Khani McCray dealt three assists.

Hanna and McCray each scored five first quarter points and Lathan added four as Jersey Shore built an 18-11 advantage.

From some super spurts, Jersey Shore hopes to put together a complete game. Do that, and the Bulldogs could keep scaling those heights.

“I love my guys. I have the utmost confidence in them,” Boob said. “We just have to put it together at the right time.”

SHIKELLAMY (59)

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Jacob Lorson (23) shoots over Shikellamy's Alex Peifer (12) in the second quarter.

Corbin Stahl 4 6-8 14, Aaron Bucher 0 1-2 1, Alex Peifer 3 1-3 9, Charlie Walter 3 3-6 9, Justin Zeigler 7 3-4 23, Maddox Hoover 1 1-1 3. Totals 18 15-24 59.

JERSEY SHORE (56)

Khani McCray 3 0-0 8, Breylan Guerrero 1 0-0 2, Landon Lathan 2 2-2 6, Ty McDermit 2 0-2 4, Tucker Hanna 9 0-1 21, Carson Watkins 4 0-0 8, Jacob Lorson 3 1-2 7, Kaihl Harlan 0 0-0, Orrin Pennycoff 0 0-0 0, Mazden Lupton 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 3-7 56.

Shikellamy 11 15 16 17–59

Jersey Shore 18 12 10 16–56

3-pointers: Shikellamy 8 (Zeigler 6, Peifer 2); Jersey Shore 5 (Hanna 3, McCray 2).

Records: Shikellamy 8-7, 2-2 HAC-I. Jersey Shore 6-6, 1-3.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ty McDermit (33) drives around Shikellamy's Corbin Stahl (5) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Tucker Hanna (34) shoots over Shikellamy's Aaron Bucher (1) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/For The Express Jersey Shore's Breylen Guerrero (31) shoots over Shikellamy's Alex Peifer (12) in the first quarter.