King’s Fork High School’s boys’ basketball team put on an intense, inspired performance Thursday night to overthrow expectations, clinch a regional berth and advance to an all-Suffolk Ironclad Conference tournament championship.

The No. 3 Bulldogs took a 6-4 lead over the No. 2 Heritage High School Hurricanes in the first quarter off two free throws by sophomore Keith Stagg. King’s Fork grew that lead and held onto it for almost the entire game.

But the storm arrived late in the third quarter and continued into the fourth when the Hurricanes tied the contest at 48.

With aggressive, athletic drives to the hoop and impeccable foul shooting, the Bulldogs ensured that the final score of 71-60 and King’s Fork’s own winning heritage would be the stories of the night.

KF head coach Josh Worrell explained what the game said about the Bulldogs.

“If they work hard and play consistent, we can play with anybody that’s matched up with us,” he said.

Thursday also proved that if they work hard, sometimes they can even be perfect.

Worrell regularly puts his players through drills to improve their free throw shooting. He recently said shortcomings in this area have accounted for the team’s losses this season.

On Thursday, he highlighted that for the first time in school history, King’s Fork finished the game without a single missed free throw. It went 21-for-21, with contributions from Keith Stagg, junior Justin Chicot, junior Dale Roscoe, senior Ricky Scott, junior Tyese Pressley and junior Shaun Faulk.

Stagg led the Bulldogs with 18 points and also grabbed seven rebounds.

Pressley had 15 points, five boards and three steals. One of the steals came during a frenzied period of the fourth quarter when every little play had a heightened level of significance.

The Hurricanes trailed 57-50 but stole the ball. They appeared poised to defend their status as a top-three team in the state among 4A schools, according to VirginiaPreps.com. But before they could get anywhere with the ball, Pressley stole it right back, drove, rose up and threw down a dunk that put the crowd in an uproar and sustained KF’s momentum.

Chicot registered 14 points and junior Cornelius Norman had six points and eight rebounds.

The match-up was played at King’s Fork High School, and the last time the two teams met there, the Bulldogs handed Heritage its first conference loss of the season by a narrow 66-65 margin. The Hurricanes avenged that loss a few days later in a dominant 66-49 home victory.

Thursday’s contest concluded the Hurricanes’ season in which they went 16-6.

The Bulldogs improved to 14-10 and will square off Friday night with the other Suffolk underdog to advance, No. 4 Lakeland High School (12-12).

The Bulldogs beat the Cavs 54-47 at Lakeland in December, and the Cavs beat the Bulldogs 55-47 last Friday at the Kennel. For their third meeting, the first Ironclad Conference tournament title will be on the line.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at King’s Fork High School.