Lakeland senior Josh Beck made a pair of free throws with 3.9 seconds left for the go-ahead points completing a wild comeback for a 46-45 win for the No. 7-seeded Cavaliers over No. 2 King’s Fork (17-6) in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern District boys basketball tournament at King’s Fork Monday night.

The upset victory, combined with top-seeded Nansemond River moving into the semifinals with an 87-62 win over No. 8 Grassfield Monday, makes Lakeland (8-14) a surprise participant in next week’s Eastern Region Tournament.

Perhaps more meaningful though, certainly at the moment the final horn sounded, was the win was the first for Lakeland over King’s Fork for any Cavalier in Monday’s game. It’s Lakeland’s first win over KF since the 2005-06 season. King’s Fork beat Lakeland 72-61 last Tuesday.

The Cavaliers worked their way to an 8-4 lead in the early minutes. Lakeland edged in front thanks to Rodney Goodman’s six points in the paint.

KF three-pointers by Jaylen White and Rod Parrett sparked the Bulldogs into the lead and KF kept rolling to a 25-13 halftime lead.

With how the Bulldog defense controlled Lakeland through most of the opening half, a 12-point margin seemed huge. The Bulldogs led 30-17 at a timeout with 4:56 showing in the third period and maintained a safe lead until the closing minute of the third quarter.

Dwight Jefferson scored in the paint, and Marche Everett tossed in a right-handed hook in the post, for the last four points of the period cutting KF’s lead down to 34-32. Beck scored nine of his game-high 16 points in the quarter.

Antonio Jefferson hit a three-pointer with 2:50 remaining to bring Lakeland within 43-42. Both sides traded turnovers, with a three-second call on the Bulldogs giving the ball to Lakeland with 1:32 left.

The Cavaliers patiently worked for an easy shot until Dwight Jefferson drove along the right baseline and scored off the glass with 0:44 to give Lakeland its first lead since the first quarter.

KF center Zach Johnson missed two free throws but White rebounded the second miss allowing Johnson to get the ball back in the lane and score with 0:23 remaining.

The Cavs put the ball in Beck’s hands throughout the final possession. He drove down to the right block and was fouled on a short jumper.

After a Bulldog timeout, he swished both from the line. The Bulldogs inbounded all the way past midcourt to Fred Scott. Scott got off a contested 17-foot jumper that bounded off the iron.

The horn set off a Cavalier celebration in the middle of the floor, along with about 40 Cavalier students rushing on the court as well.

Lakeland will meet Oscar Smith and Nansemond River will face Great Bridge in Wednesday’s semifinals at King’s Fork.
District Highlights

Southeastern District Tournament quarterfinals

• No. 1 Nansemond River 87, No. 8 Grassfield 62
• No. 4 Great Bridge 67, No. 5 Indian River 49
• No. 3 Oscar Smith 57, No. 6 Deep Creek 47
• No. 7 Lakeland 46, No. 2 King’s Fork 45

Great Bridge, Oscar Smith and Lakeland (8-14) gain berths to the Eastern Region Tournament.
Nansemond River (19-4) is in the regional tournament for winning the regular-season title.