It was a game of two halves Friday night between No. 1 seed Sicily Island High School and No. 8 seed Centerville High School in the quarterfinals of the LHSAA Class 1A boys state playoffs.

After Sicily Island dominated the first half, Centerville took control in the second and had a two-point lead late in regulation. That was when Devion Dunbar scored on a drive to the basket with 20 seconds left that eventually sent the game into overtime.

The Tigers went on to outscore the Bulldogs 14-8 in the extra period to take a 75-69 victory and advance to the Class 1A semifinals.

“It was a very intense, hard-fought game,” Sicily Island head coach Curtis Shavers said. “We jumped on them in the first quarter. We got out to a 16-point lead late in the second quarter and were up 12 at halftime.”

Sicily Island put up 20 points in the first quarter while holding Centerville to just 10 points. The second quarter was more competitive, but the Tigers had a 16-14 advantage and took a 36-24 lead at the break.

Then the Tigers committed one turnover after another in the third quarter and that allowed the Bulldogs to come back in a big way. Led by Lance Howard and Jaylon Williams, Centerville outscored Sicily Island 20-12 to make the score 48-44 in favor of the home team heading into the fourth quarter.

“We came out the second half flat. We had some areless passes. They hit some clutch shots. They got hot in the third quarter and made some 3s,” Shavers said.

Sicily Island post player Jim Atkins fouled out in the third quarter, and Shavers said that that took away some of the Tigers’ post presence.

Shavers noted that Dunbar, Tyreke Tolliver and Jameon Tolliver stepped up and made some key shots in the fourth quarter when the Tigers needed them. After Dunbar’s game-tying basket, they had a chance to win after creating a turnover with 12 seconds left. But both shots would not go in. However, Sicily Island would not be denied in overtime and pulled out the victory.

Dunbar led all scorers with 25 points while Tyreke Tolliver had 19 points and Jameon Tolliver finished with 16 points.

Howard and Williams led Centerville with 20 points each.

“The kids stayed on the floor for a least 20, 25 minutes after the buzzer sounded. Fans were congratulating them. It was a great feeling,” Shavers said.

Now it’s own to Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La. for Sicily Island (30-6) as the Tigers will take on No. 4 seed White Castle in one semifinal-round game at 3 p.m. Tuesday.