WEST FRANKFORT — The Herrin Tigers used a 9-0 fourth quarter run take the lead for good over Williamson County rival Marion on the way to a 42-36 win in the championship game of the West Frankfort Mid-Winter Classic.

Points were at a premium all night as the defenses dominated for most of this one. The teams were tied 18-18 at the half. Late in the third with Marion up 24-22, Exavier Williams buried a corner three-pointer to give Herrin a 25-24 lead heading to the fourth.

The teams alternated baskets until Haydon Mayer started the decisive run with a strong move to the basket. He led all scorers with 14 and was named tourney MVP. Riley Chrostoski sandwiched a pair of baskets around Jonathan Harrison’s two-handed slam as the Tigers turned a one-point deficit into a 36-28 lead with less than 3:00 to play.

Venson Newsom tried to rally the Wildcats. He led Marion with 13, but Herrin, specificially Williams, was tough from the line down the stretch. The Tigers’ sophomore finished 7-8 from the line to secure the championship clinching win. Williams finished with 10 points on the night.

The Tigers have won two tournaments in the last three and a half weeks, having captured the Eldorado Holiday Tournament title after Christmas. Mayer was the tourney MVP there as well.