Matt Husek opened up the fourth quarter of last Friday's PIAA 3A first-round matchup against Pope John Paul II with a jumper that gave Bethlehem Catholic their largest lead of the night at 45-38.

Everything then seemed to go downhill for the Hawks.

The Golden Panthers (16-9), District 1's number two seed, went on to score 12 of the next 16 points to go ahead by one with 1:33 left to play. And despite a costly Hawks turnover with 1:02 remaining, Becahi (13-12) still clung to life in the final seconds.

But that was to no avail, as the Hawks were never able to retake the lead or tie it up in the final seconds. The Golden Panthers hit their free throws down the stretch and advanced with the 59-56 victory, ending the Hawks' run in 2012.

"Things were certainly going our way," said head coach Michael Frew. "The zone didn't bother us but we had some other breakdowns with defensive assignments and leaving guys opened. They made us pay."

Pope John Paull II's Nicholas Demeno hit two deep three-pointers from the left wing during that critical stretch. His first came with 4:46 to play that brought the Golden Panthers back to within two.

After a Freddie Simmons drive and bucket on the Hawks' subsequent possession that made it 47-43 Becahi, Demeno hit another deep trey. That brought it to within one, the closest the Golden Panthers were since roughly midway in the third.

"We were right there," said Frey. "A couple things didn't quite go our way. They made those two big threes."

The teams then exchanged buckets over the next two minutes, giving the Hawks a 49-48 advantage. But the Golden Panthers would go on to score the next six points to take control of the game.

"They spread us out a little bit to try and take Matt away from the basket," said Frey. "And it worked throughout the entire game."

Neither team led by more than five in the first three quarters of play.

Simmons (20 points) and Husek (18 points, six rebounds and five blocks) accounted for much of the Hawks' attack. Justin Lenzer hit two three-pointers and had eight points.

"I told the boys it's a heartbreaking loss," said Frey. "But probably the hardest thing is that I'm not going to get to continue this journey with this team. These kids have worked and fought, and really tried to give Bethlehem Catholic boys basketball an identity and create a basketball culture."