Kameron Clements of Hanson (23) drives against a North Vermilion defender on Thursday. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian

FRANKLIN — The Hanson Tigers started flat, but roared back and almost pulled off an upset of Class 3A North Vermilion Thursday in the Hanson Holiday Tournament, but the Patriots made a couple of free throws in the final two minutes to survive with a 55-52 win over HMS .

The Tigers, who stayed within three points of NVHS for most of the second half, rallied to take the lead at 52-51 with three minutes left but couldn’t keep the rally going as North Vermilionscored the last four points of the game to seal the win.

“We couldn’t hold on,” said HMS coach Chris Barrilleaux. “They are a good team. Their kids are strong, physical, execute well.

“That was the one thing that we didn’t do, we didn’t execute down the stretch. We were down one point, had a set play and the kid was wide open under the goal. But we made a bad pass and it went out of bounds and they went down and hit two free throws and that pretty much was the game.”

The loss didn’t take away from a remarkable Hanson rally.

The Tigers, who trailed 18-9 at the end of the first quarter, went to a more aggressive strategy in the second quarter and it paid off immediately.

“We went to a little run and jump press and it worked tonight,” said Barrilleaux. “The kids fought back and we took the lead, we just came up a little bit short.”

North Vermilion coach Jack LeBlanc was happy to see his team hold on despite playing with a depleted bench.

“We’re short depth-wise,” said LeBlanc. “The first half, the first quarter, we were fresh and made a lot of lay-ups.

“When they put the run and jump press on us it got to us. We had turnovers and did a great job coming back. I thought our kids did a great job of digging in in the fourth quarter and making the stops and getting the rebounds we needed.”

Chase Businelle led Hanson with 18 points and Austin Bodin added 12. Jeremy Jones led North Vermilion with 16 points.

In other games at the tournament, Hanson’s girls beat Patterson 57-34, West St. Mary’s girls beat Morgan City 58-32 and Centerville thrashed Delcambre 70-32.

Hanson 57, Patterson 34

Macie Guillotte scored 19 points and Emily Sonnier added 18 as the Lady Tigers rolled to the win.

Brittany Broussard added 8 points for HMS, which led 16-9 after the first quarter and 29-16 at halftime.

Nakia Brooks and Claudia Fine each scored 9 points for Patterson.

West St. Mary 58, Morgan City 32

Amber Joe had 13 points to lead WSM, which outscored Morgan City 37-16 in the second half to pull away with the win.

Casey Chenevert had 18 points for Morgan City, including four 3-point baskets. May Grogan added 7 points, with one 3-pointer.

Centerville 70, Delcambre 32

Rodrick Taylor had 30 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Bulldogs rolled past the Panthers.

Quinton Nettles and Jumanji Washington each had 12 points for Centerville, which led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter then outscored DHS 20-6 in the second quarter to take control.

Clarence Farrier led Delcambre with 15 points.