Clarks Summit, PA - It was a true team effort that defeated the Defenders of Baptist Bible College on Wednesday evening 61-59 to cap off the 2014-15 season. Four players finished with double-digit points for a combined 46% shooting in the game.

Baptist Bible was eager to try and repeat with a win on their home court after defeating Cairn earlier in the season in Langhorne, Pa. Abe Valentine quickly hit two three-pointers and Adam Brinkly added a layup to put the Defenders up 8-0 early on. 

However, Cairn came right back with a 9-0 run to take the one point lead. The game was them played point-for-point until about two minutes left in the first half. Baptist Bible's Zack Thompson collected the ball off of a steal and hit a three-pointer to put the Defenders up by seven. 

Once again the Highlanders responded well and JD Zamroz put up a three followed by Darnell Clowney who completed the old fashioned three point play. Neither team could then score in the final minute of the half and the Highlanders entered the locker room down by one, 28-27. 

The two teams came out battling to start the second half, sensing that it was always going to be a fight until the very end. Reuben Lacy attempted to ignore fate and put the game into his own hands though, and made three consecutive long range shots in just over a minute. The shots took the Highlanders from being down by three to leading by six with 13:10 on the clock.

Unfortunately Lacy's tactics didn't work as Baptist quickly tied the game back up at 42-42 following a timeout with two three-pointers of their own. One minute later Kyle Bonner decided it was his turn and he hit a three followed by a layup to put Cairn up by five. This time Cairn kept the lead and bonner drained another three to help the team to a six point lead with 7:30 on the clock.

Bonner finished with 13 points in the game, tied with Lacy for the team-high total. About three minutes later, the Defenders tied the game at 54-54 but Aaron Stovall kept the Highlanders ahead with shot from beyond the arc. Stovall finished the game 5-10 for 12 points. As a team, the Highlanders were 9-22 from three point range. 

Baptist Bible worked their way back to a tie score, thanks to their free-throw shooting. The Defenders finished 11-16 from the stripe. Omar Askia then drove his way to the basket and got the and-one to again put the Highlanders up by three points. More free-throws by Baptist Bible got them to within one and that was as close as they would get down the stretch.

The Defenders eventually had to foul and that put Bonner at the line where he hit one of two free throws with six seconds left in the game. That was enough for the Defenders to get off the last shot but it was off the mark and the Highlanders won it 61-59. 

The win is the Highlanders' third of the year but it is the last for Cairn this season. The men finish up the year with a 3-22 overall record and 3-13 record in the CSAC. Baptist Bible fell to 2-23 overall and 1-17 in the conference with the loss.