RALEIGH, N.C. — Cardinal Gibbons went more than 26 minutes without having the lead in its first-round playoff game. That almost always gets you a first-round exit.

Almost.

The 15th-seeded Crusaders had an answer for conference rival Broughton time and time again, eventually outlasting the visitors in double overtime in Tuesday by an 81-77 score to open the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys basketball playoffs.

Gibbons, which trailed by as many as 12 in the fourth, didn’t see a lead between the 2:17 mark in the second quarter until Griffin Cockerham’s game-winning layup with about 6 seconds left in double OT.

It took every bit of effort to keep up with Jordan Page’s night on offense. The highly-recruited sophomore had a career-high 41 points on the night on 15 field goals (two 3s) and 9-of-15 at the free throw line.

In the first half, Page had 23 of his team’s 29 points, and the Capitals led 29-26 after falling behind 18-11 after the first quarter.

Broughton went up 12 with 6:17 left in regulation, but it was down to five in less than a minute later.

Gibbons tied it 63-all with 3:23 left in the fourth on two Cash McSweeney free throws. Page answered within seconds to make it 65-63, then added two free throw to make it 67-63 with 2:32 left.

Then Gibbons senior Damon Phillips made a 3 (he had five on the night for 21 points) to cut it to a 1-point lead with two minutes left, but neither team could score until Page hit 1-of-2 free throws with 34.2 remaining. Gibbons found McSweeney on the low block to tie it, 67-67 with 24.2 left. Broughton tried a 3 on its last possession, but it was no good.

In the first overtime, the two teams traded baskets early, but Page made a free throws with 1:03 left and Austin Youngs added two more from the stripe with 33.7 on the clock.

Down 75-72, Gibbons called a timeout with 21.7 left and got an open look in the corner from sophomore Ty Lange, who hit it with 17 seconds left to make it 75-75.

The game went into a second overtime as Broughton’s close-range shot hit the back rim.

In double overtime, each team only scored one basket each until the final minute. Gibbons called timeout with the game tied 77-all and 28.8 seconds left.

Guard Walker Montague got a screen from McSweeney, but both defenders stayed with Montague well outside the 3-point range. Montague lobbed it to McSweeney, who was open in the high post, and the help defender left Cockerham to go to McSweeney — which left Cockerham open at point-blank range for McSweeney to find.

Broughton got a timeout with 7.0 seconds left, but the final shot from distance missed, and Gibbons got the rebound and two final free throws with 0.7 seconds left. Gibbons will head to second-seeded Garner on Friday in the second round.

BOX SCORE
Cardinal Gibbons — Will Migdal 4, Ty Lange 6, Cash McSweeney 23, Damon Phillips 21, Griffin Cockerham 18, Walker Montague 9
Broughton — Jordan Page 41, Hudson Fitzgerald 2, Storm Taylor 3, Christian Outlaw 16, Braylen McRae 3, Austin Youngs 4, Sam Freeman 8