By Ray Hamill — Both teams answered the call late in the first of Tuesday’s Dick Niclai Tournament semifinals in boys basketball.

Trailing by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, the Del Norte Warriors rallied to tie the game in the drying seconds, thanks in large part to the outstanding play of junior Sawyer Fry.

But the St. Bernard’s boys would have the final say, when Tyler Hinrichs scored the winning basket as time expired to cap an exciting game played in front of a large crowd at College of the Redwoods.

The Crusaders won the game 69-67 to advance to Friday night’s championship game at Lumberjack Arena, where they will face Big 5 champs McKinleyville.

The Panthers got the better of Hoopa in the second semifinal on Tuesday by a score of 76-61.

Several players stepped up for Del Norte and St. Bernard’s in their game.

In addition to the outstanding Fry, Del Norte sophomore Ty Blue continued to play at a high level in the paint and helped key the late rally, while junior Garrett Shanahan had a huge fourth quarter for the St. Bernard’s, helping to keep his team in the lead for much of the period.

Hinrichs also had a night he won’t easily forget, nailing the game-winning basket and also taking a big charge to give his team possession at a key point of the game late in the fourth.

All in all, it was a very entertaining night for local fans.

For more on the game, see Hinrichs’ buzzer-beater breaks late tie in exciting Niclai showdown …

Check out some fourth-quarter highlights above …

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Carson Costa in action for the Crusaders on Tuesday night.