The Mustangs overcame a 15-point first-half deficit to knock off defending 4A state champion New Hanover High 69-61.

Thanks to some cold Middle Creek shooting and dominant interior defense, the Wildcats held a 26-11 lead with three minutes remaining in the half.

The Mustangs then put together a rousing 13-3 run to close the half, down just five points at 29-24. Middle Creek left for intermission with the packed house in a frenzy following back-to-back 3-pointers by Tom Tankelwicz (12 points) and Garrius Adams. Adams launched his from just inside the mid-court line as the buzzer sounded.

“I’ve never heard that sound in this gym before,” Middle Creek coach David Kushner said of the crescendo that greeted Adams’ buzzer-beater.

Entering the game, Kushner knew it would be a long night if his players tried to challenge New Hanover’s Ty Walker at the rim. The 7-1 Wake Forest recruit was the MVP of the state finals a year ago. The Mustangs took him on a few times early and were sent packing before they returned to the game plan.

“We finally realized we had to bring him out and then make the pass,” Kushner said.

Early in the third quarter, Adams and 6-foot-6 Mustangs center, Brian Proulx began executing perfectly. Adams drove and drew Walker’s with shot fakes, then slipped passes to a cutting Proulx for layups. Proulx scored eight of his 12 points that way.

“I knew Ty Walker was one of the best shot blockers around,” Proulx said. “I didn’t play intimidated, though. Because I knew if I did, he would just dominate.”

Adams, who had four assists to go with his game-high 24 points, said Proulx streaking to the basket was a welcome sight in the second half.

“My teammates were there the whole time,” he said. “Every time I drove someone was there with their hands up for a pass. Brian Proulx had a good game tonight.”

Defensively, Proulx helped limit Walker to just eight points in the game.

Despite the Wildcats’ swarming full court pressure throughout, Middle Creek committed only five turnovers, and charging calls accounted for three of them.

Kushner said losses of composure led directly to the Mustangs’ two losses this winter — both at the hands of conference rival Panther Creek. He was proud of his team’s poise against New Hanover.

Middle Creek senior point guard Kip Kelley (11 points) said the Mustangs held a players-only meeting following their loss to Panther Creek in the Tri-8 tournament championship game. They wanted to assure that there would be no more lapses in focus.

“We knew these playoffs weren’t about ‘Xs’ and ‘Os,’” Kelley said. “It’s about our desire. ... I think our effort is going to determine our destiny.”

Add free-throw shooting to that equation as well. The Mustangs were 22-26 for the game and a steely 17-18 in the fourth quarter. Adams scored nine of his 15 fourth-quarter points at the free throw line.

The sectional final win was the third of the week for Middle Creek (27-2). The Mustangs downed Raleigh Sanderson High on Monday, 56-47 in the first round. They followed that up with a 56-40 second-round win over Southern Pines Pinecrest on Thursday. The Mustangs travel to the 4A Eastern Regionals in Greenville for a Friday night matchup with Fayetteville Jack Britt High.