Forest Park senior Felix Quevedo (15) leaps out of bounds to save a loose ball while freshman Vic Giuliani (32) looks on during Tuesday’s game against North Central at Flivver Gym. (Terry Raiche photo)

KINGSFORD — Trailing at halftime, 19-15, the Forest Park boys varsity basketball team was in danger of seeing its impressive season come to an end on Tuesday when the Trojans faced off with North Central at Flivver Gym for the MHSAA Division 4 Regional 25 semifinals.

However, just as has been the case both times these teams have faced off this season, Forest Park (21-4) rallied in the second half and picked up the 45-31 win over the Jets (11-15).

“I’m proud of the guys, how they handled the first half,” Forest Park head coach Jason Price said. “We couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean in the first half. We couldn’t make a three, but we weathered the storm. They had a great game plan for us. They were moving in that 2-3 and taking away the inside, so you’ve got to make some shots.

“I’m proud of Vic (Giuliani). He made some free throws there. It was a little struggle on Friday, but I’m proud of him for stepping up and making some free throws down the stretch.”

On Friday, in the District 99 Championship against Norway, freshman Vic Giuliani struggled at the free throw line during the game’s final moments.

That wasn’t the case on Tuesday. He still had the ball in his hand at the end of the game, but this time he recorded 10 points in the final two minutes, including a thunderous two-handed slam dunk that capped off the win.

“Vic’s my dog,” Price said. “He’s been my dog all year. He’s a freshman but he’s a kid that works hard. He’s a competitor. He loves to compete. These are big boy moments and it’s almost nothing to him, which is exciting. … I’m just glad he’s on my team.”

Even though North Central finished with its first losing season since 2009-10, a district championship for first-year head coach Tyler Mercier doesn’t equate to a failed season.

“We talked about, we said this in the district game, ‘In order to win a District Championship, you’ve got to have talent and want it more than the other team,'” Mercier said. “‘I said tonight, ‘We’ve got to want it more than the other team, because we know how much talent they have.’ And my guys really fought.

“We were 8-14 in the regular season. So to come out and play a (Forest Park) team that’s favored to have a state championship run, to a 19-15 lead in the first half, is huge for our program, going forward. … Those guys gave me everything they had, every single day and nothing to hang our heads about. We fought as hard as we could, did everything we could do and at the end of the day they’re just a little bit better than us.”

The Jets kicked off the first half with a 6-0 run as senior Hunter Robinson scored four points and junior Spencer Willa added two.

It took a few minutes, but the Trojans found their range with junior Grayson Sundell and senior Gaven Rintala each netting a 3-points making it an 11-6 game.

Forest Park would add two more points to its total in the frame, but the North Central lead grew to 14-8 at the end of the first on a Jake Poquette 3-pointer.

The Trojans quickly cut the lead to two at the start of the second and both teams battled back-and-forth until the halftime buzzer sounded.

“It was 19-15 at the end of the first half and it was just hanging in there,” Price said. “It’s a little uneasy. We beat them by 20 and 30 points, but we knew it wasn’t going to be that big of a margin.

“The guys locked into the game plan, executed down the stretch and that wins you a game.”

Vic Giuliani closed the second quarter with a layup and continued finding his feet in the third. He scored six of the Trojans’ eight points to start the third and Forest Park took its first lead, 23-21.

The Jets called a timeout, but it didn’t stop the Trojans’ momentum and they took a 30-23 advantage into the final frame.

North Central managed to whittle the lead down to five points with two minutes to play in the game.

However, junior Lane Gorzinski was assessed a flagrant foul while trying to stop Vic Giuliani from scoring.

Giuliani drilled both free throws and Forest Park rolled to the win.

Vic Giuliani led all scorers with 19 points.

He also recorded five rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The Trojans also received contributions from Gabe Quevedo (4 points, 1 rebound), Sundell (6 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal), Izaiah Tarter (1 assist), Felix Quevedo (2 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 2 steals), Matt Showers (2 rebounds), Dax Huuki (5 points, 3 rebounds), Rintala (5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Kevin Giuliani (4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals).

Robinson led the Jets with 10 points.

He scored all of his points in the first half.

North Central also received contributions from Poquette (8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal), Willa (2 points, 5 rebounds), Jacob Gorzinski (2 points, 3 assists), Lane Gorzinski (5 points, 3 rebounds) and Abram Eichhorn (2 points, 1 rebound).

Forest Park will face off with Lake Linden-Hubbell at Lakeview Memorial Gym in Negaunee at 6 p.m. CST today for the MHSAA Division 4 Regional 25 Championship.

The Trojan’s lost to the Lakes, 65-54, on Feb. 21.

“We’ve played them, which is nice, we know who they are,” Price said. “It’s going to be an exciting game up in Negaunee.

“We’ll go to work on Wednesday, but you’ve got a one-day turnaround and then we play. So I’m excited I’ve got 10 bodies to throw at them.”