VALDOSTA — Lowndes entered the Region 1-6A boys basketball tournament as the No. 3 seed, but the Vikings are No. 1 after holding off host Valdosta High for the championship Saturday, 58-55.

The win is a double crown. Friday night, the Vikettes won their region title over Colquitt County at Camden County High.

It was the second heart-stopping ending in as many games at VHS. In the earlier consolation contest, Tift County’s J.J. Lamar sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to win 42-40 over Colquitt.

The main event also came down to the wire. After missing two free throws with 18 seconds left to potentially put the Wildcats away, Lowndes swatted a Valdosta three-point attempt at the horn.

Lowndes’ win was especially sweet, considering the Vikings did not score for 4:30 of the fourth quarter and fouled out both Isaiah Camon and Kam Jackson in the process. Jackson exited at 3:37 and Camon at 1:11.

Valdosta began the fourth frame down 52-44, but two Braylan Deas field goals cut that in half over the first 100 seconds.

Camon drove for a basket at 6:06 to make it 54-48, but those were the last Vikings points for a long time. Instead, fouls racked up for Lowndes and the ‘Cats were in the bonus in only a shade over two minutes.

Jabarri Williams and Deas sliced the lead at the line down to 54-51 at 5:24, but they could not get closer than that for nearly three minutes.

Deas finally scored at 2:48 for VHS to trail by one, 54-53. At 2:20, Williams made both foul shots and the hosts were up a point, 55-54.

Still stuck in the lengthy cold stretch, it looked as if Lowndes had lost its momentum completely. That’s when Jahmarcus Walker stepped up.

At 1:31, Walker put back in an offensive rebound and Lowndes was back in front, 56-55.

Valdosta went to the line again at 1:11, but missed both attempts. A jump ball off that miss went to the Vikings. On their end, Lowndes missed a shot, but a big save and pass landed in the hands of Wyatt Ferguson. Ferguson went up and was fouled. With 37 ticks showing, Ferguson sank both free throws. Lowndes now had a slight bit of insurance.

The Wildcats went in for a layup and it was still on the rim when it was tipped in. Officials signaled offensive goaltending and with 27 seconds to go, the ball belonged once more to Lowndes.

Lowndes subbed in players it preferred shooting free throws, but both missed and Valdosta had a chance. They called time with 10 on the clock to set up a play, but it never developed. A desperation three was swatted by two players and Lowndes clinched No. 1.

Saturday’s title game swung wildly back and forth at times.

The Wildcats scored the first four points, but Lowndes went off an electric first quarter from behind the arc. Camon had three triples in 90 seconds to jump ahead 9-4. Jackson made it a fourth in the frame for LHS.

At 1:34, Valdosta held a 16-9 lead, but it was a one-possession game at quarter’s end as Deas connected from deep and Nolan Jackson stole an inbounds pass and dunk at the other end.

Deas and Williams had threes during a 9-4 VHS run to put them ahead at 23-20. The Wildcats continued the hot streak, going up 31-23 when Williams went 2-for-2 at the line.

But like the first, the last few seconds allowed the trailer to get back some momentum.

Tarrell Green Jr. made the first, but missed the second free shot at 1.4 seconds. Coming to his rescue was Jackson, who tipped the ball in before time expired. Valdosta had a 33-28 lead at the break.

Williams scored to begin the third, but Lowndes went on another tear. Dallas Montgomery, Camon and Rashaud Adams made three-pointers as the Vikings went back up 41-36 midway through the third period.

Jackson scored 17 and Camon netted 14 for Lowndes. Four others had five points each. For Valdosta, Deas was high scorer at 16 points and Williams was close behind at 15.

Valdosta will host Etowah in the first round of the state tournament. Lowndes is set to play host to Cherokee. Both opponents are from Region 5.