KINGSLEY - There's an adage as old as the game of basketball itself and that is close games are won at the foul line. The Eagles proved that to be true in the quarterfinal game at home Wednesday night, going 15 of 18 at the line to pull out the 53-36 victory over Forest City.

The game was much closer than the 17 point margin showed at the end, with Mountain View clinging to a one point lead after three quarters. The Eagles converted 11 out of 14 free throws in the fourth, with Jackson Gesford hitting eight of 10.

Jordan Jagger connected on a three pointer and Gesford added a two pointer as the Eagles found themselves trailing 9-5 after one.

Mountain View would take a five point lead into the half, besting the Foresters by nine points in the second. 

Gesford paced the offense hitting a pair of fields goals and going flawless at the stripe in four attempts, totaling eight points in the second.

Jagger buried another three on his way to five points, Hudson Bain tallied four points and Max Madura added a pair. At the break their team was up 24-19.

The Mountain View offense stalled again in the third with Wyatt Thatcher nailing a three and Bain adding a bucket for the only Eagle points in the period.

Their defense kept them in the lead allowing the Foresters to score just nine points. Heading into the fourth it was 29-28 in favor of Mountain View.

The Eagles exploded for 24 points in the final frame, notching 11 of them from the foul line.

Gesford led the way with 10 points, tallying eight at the stripe. Bain contributed with eight points, connecting on both his foul shots.

Jagger hit his third shot of the night from behind the arc and added on from the line, Thatcher added a bucket.

Their defense held Forest City to single digits on the board for the third time, winning by a final score of 53-36.

Gesford scored half of his game leading 20 points in the fourth quarter, he was 12 of 14 at the free throw line in the contest.

Bain and Jagger joined their teammate in double figures tallying 14 and 12 points respectively. Thatcher finished with five points and Madura pitched in with a pair.

With the win the Eagles advance to the semi finals, where they will host Lackawanna Trail on Saturday Feb. 22.