Two powerhouses in Kentucky high school basketball faced off Friday when the No. 2 Frederick Douglass Broncos outlasted the No. 5 Bryan Station Defenders 49-48.

The programs squared off at Bryan Station High School and did not disappoint with both teams fighting tooth and nail to the very end. DeMarcus Surratt was one of the main contributors for the Broncos in the game, scoring 24 points and grabbing five rebounds.

The Broncos started off the game strong with a quick 5-0 run punctuated by a Surratt fast-break dunk. Both teams went back and forth, but the Broncos held on to their lead to end the first quarter.

Both teams started out scoreless in the second quarter until Amari Owens hit a pull-up jumper with 6:35 to go in the half. The Defenders proceeded to build momentum with an 8-1 run until the Broncos responded with a Surratt fall-away jumper with 1:19 to go in the half. Both teams remained scoreless the rest of the half with the Defenders holding onto a 20-19 lead.

The Defenders started off the second half on a tear, going on an 11-0 run until Surratt answered the call again with an and-one to end another Defender run with 4:08 remaining in the quarter. This prompted a 6-0 Bronco run a little over midway through the third to cut the Defender lead to six. Both teams went back and forth to end the quarter with the Defenders holding onto their 37-31 lead.

The final quarter started out scoreless for both sides until the Broncos broke the ice with two free throws from Surratt with 5:48 to go. The Defenders responded quickly with a three from Rashaad Faulkner. The Broncos then proceeded to go on an 8-2 run to cut the Defender lead to one. Brunley Fon ended the Bronco run with a putback to give the Defenders a 44-41 lead with 3:23 to go.

After the Broncos got a layup from Jaunte Jenkins, the Defenders respond with a big and-one from Owens to extend the lead with 3:03 to go. The Broncos still weren’t done yet with Surratt hitting a massive three to keep them alive with 2:11 to go. 

The Defenders were in control with both teams staying neck-and-neck for the next minute and a half. Suddenly, trailing by two with 33 seconds to go, the Broncos got the break they needed with a huge three from Tate Robinson to give them the lead. 

The Defenders needed an answer, but, with five seconds to go, Owens put up a floater that was blocked by Aveion Chenault to help the Broncos hold on the lead. Even after two missed free throws by Chenault, the Defenders weren’t able to get up a final shot as Jordan Axsom inbounded the ball from the opposite baseline and heaved it down the court, only to have it stolen by Jenkins to end it with the Broncos winning in a thriller.

Fresh off the win, the 17-2 Broncos will match up against the Sayre Spartans on Tuesday. The 18-4 Defenders will look to respond against the Spartans as well next Friday after facing Lafayette on Tuesday.