SUWANEE, GA – Wheeler High School boys basketball team is not going to take anything for granted moving forward.

After surviving a triple overtime game before Thursday’s quarterfinals, the Wildcats knew it would have to make a point early in order to continue its season.

Wheeler made sure it came out with the energy it needed early before holding on for a 61-58 win over North Gwinnett in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats are headed back to the Final Four, where it will face Cobb County-foe Pebblebrook on Saturday.

“We had to come out to be physical and be focused because of the last game,” Wheeler’s Jaylen Brown said. “People were crying in the locker room because we won. We realized it could end if we don’t play. That was a wake up call for us.”

The Wildcats’ season survived a grueling, triple overtime game against Shiloh after a slow start. Players made sure this quarterfinal game was different.

Wheeler (26-5) held a one-point halftime lead but things changed quickly in the third quarter. Brown went on the score the Wildcats first seven points of the quarter. Then you added baskets by Elijah Staley, Daniel Giddens and Avery Patterson, Wheeler went on to outscore North Gwinnett 25-14 in the quarter. It ended the third with a 41-31 lead.

However, like most of the evening, North Gwinnett (28-4) was not going to just go away. The Bulldogs were trailed by 13-points (46-33) after Brown hit two free throws early in the fourth quarter. Then the duo of T.J. Howard and Ahmad Caver went to work.

Howard knocked down a three-pointer after hitting a pair of free throws. Caver hit back-to-back baskets. Howard nailed another three. North’s 14-4 run helped pull them within 50-47.

However, Wheeler took advantage of the Bulldogs necessity to foul immediately going 12-for-19 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Caver hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game, which also ended North’s season.

Bulldogs’ coach Zach Smith was in deep thought looking for answers but summarized it this way.

“The bottom line is it was a heartbreaking loss. My hat goes off to (Wheeler coach) Dough (Lipscomb) and his team. They came in and did a good job. They’re tough. They’re incredibly talented.”

Brown finished with a team-high 20-points and 11 rebounds, while Avery Patterson added 18 points. Daniel Giddens had eight points and pulled down 17 rebounds. Wheeler is not just trying to live on that talent.

“We weathered the storm because that is a very good,” They are well coached, play hard and run their system very well. For us to come out with win and hit some clutch free throws, even though we missed a couple but we’ll take it since we’re on the road. I’m proud by the way we played.”

Caver finished with a game-high 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Howard added 15 points and three assists. Malik Carter had 14 points. Owen Lewis had 11 rebounds.