Here’s what happened when the St. Patrick boys met Philadelphia in the 2A quarterfinals

The Philadelphia boys basketball team is heading to the Big House.

Behind a stellar defense in the fourth quarter along with the play of Jordan Hill and Tanner Boler, the Tornadoes got past St. Patrick 59-44 in the quarterfinal round of the MHSAA Class 2A playoffs at Pearl River Community College’s Marvin G. White Coliseum on Friday night.

The Tornadoes (24-5) will face Potts Camp in the semifinal round at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

“Jordan and Tanner did what they’ve done all year and that’s led us in scoring,” Philadelphia coach Willis Tullos said. “Defensively, we stepped up and got turnovers in the fourth quarter and were able to get baskets.”

The difference in the game was the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia held a 42-35 edge heading into the final period, but St. Patrick’s Robert Van Horn hit a lay-up to begin the fourth to cut to 42-37.

That was the Irish’s only basket until just under two minutes remaining.

The Tornadoes went on a 17-0 run during that span to pull away.

“At the beginning, we didn’t come out like we needed too, but like we’ve had all season we picked it up in the second half,” Hill said. “We pressed them the whole game and I felt like that wore them down and made them tired.”

Boler had 20 points to lead Philadelphia, while Hill added 13 points. Jatarian Hudson chipped in 12 points for the Tornadoes.

“We’ve always been a second half team and it showed,” Tullos said. “Now we get to move on to the coliseum and see how it goes.”

Nick Krass had 20 points to lead St. Patrick and while Drew Roth added 16 points for the Irish (22-9).

“I’m disappointed because we are a better team than we showed, but give them credit they put us away when they had too,” St. Patrick coach Keith Robinson said. “We had numerous opportunities and didn’t capitalize. Just didn’t execute very well and at this level. If you don’t it will cost you.”