APEX - The evening began with Senior Night introductions for Middle Creek's boys basketball team that included a standing ovation for injured Rashawn King – the Mustangs' Comeback Kid.

And by the end of Friday's game, the Creek Crazies, Middle Creek's student section, stormed the court to celebrate the Mustangs' 51-49 upset of Tri-Nine champion Apex.

"We've been hanging our heads with all the things going on and the injuries,” Middle Creek coach David Kushner said of the late-season slump that included Tuesday's upset loss to Holly Springs. "But I thought tonight we had a great attitude. We had our best team victory. I'm very proud of everything they did tonight."

Afterward, Apex coach David Neal kept his team in the locker room longer than usual to remind his players they were still conference champs despite the frustrating loss.

Apex (21-3, 14-2 Tri-Nine) entered the regular-season finale having already clinched the conference title with a three-game lead over Middle Creek (16-7, 12-4 Tri-Nine) and Green Hope.

"The goal was to win the regular season (conference title), and we did," Neal said. "I'm extremely proud of these guys. It's hard to get them to realize the accomplishment of winning the regular season after a loss. But I thought Middle Creek played great. I give them all the credit."

When Kushner referred to “everything" his players did,” he could have singled out the defensive effort of holding Apex's potent offense below 50 points, to little-used senior Nick Bennett claiming the unlikely hero role with two 3-point field goals and, finally, senior Jon Moore hitting two game-winning free throws.

But Moore's decisive free throws weren't without some tense moments.

The game's ending was set up by Apex's T.J. Evans, who finished with 20 points, hitting a 3-point field goal to tie the score at 49-49 with 37 seconds to play.

Middle Creek called time out to set up a game-winning shot and worked the clock until Moore was fouled on a 3-point attempt from the right side with 1.7 seconds on the clock.

Middle Creek is not a good free-throw shooting team, but Moore is the player Kushner wanted taking the last shot or ending up on the line. However, Moore missed the first attempt badly when the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high and away.

"I was a little nervous after the first one, but he's one of our best free throw shooters,” Kushner said cheerfully. "He's made some big shots for us in his career."

Moore didn't flinch. He stuck to his Steve Nash-inspired routine after the miss, practicing his stroke without the ball. Then he referee handed him the ball and he made the second one followed by the third one for the game-winning points.

"I wasn't worried," Moore said. "That's the basket I shoot my free throws at in practice. I never thought I wouldn't make one."

Apex was thus faced with going the length of the court in 1.7 seconds. The Cougars successfully got the ball up the court for a shot, but it was in heavy traffic from NBA 3-point range and missed.

Junior Quinton Ray led Middle Creek's senior-dominated lineup with 15 points and Bennett, a senior, added 11, including a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer. Moore finished with 7.

Kushner said Bennett has earned some more playing time in the post-season, but the Mustangs are also hoping King will make his second comeback of the year. King, who missed his junior season with leukemia, has been sidelined for five games with a chipped bone in his left foot.

"It was important to win on Senior Night," Moore said. "We talk about protecting our home court. We've struggled a little, but I think we're coming together."