VANDALIA —All is well, that ends well.

Or, Survive and Advance.

Whatever your philosophy, the Miami East boys basketball team is playing in the D-III district semifinal at the Vandalia SAC at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Vikings, 16-8 and the eighth seed will play Brookville, 18-6 and the fifth seed after knocking off fourth seeded Carlisle 51-49 in an exciting final minute Wednesday.

The Indians close the season at 14-9.

The Vikings were leading 44-40 and running clock when freshman Ty Rohrer took the ball, drove to the basket and scored with 1:19 left. While the free throw attempt on a possible three-point play was off the mark, East led 46-40.

When Jacob Roeth added one of two free throws with 58.5 seconds remaining to make it 47-40, the Vikings seemed to have the game under control.

But, with 52.8 seconds remaining, Roeth picked up his fifth foul.

Blake Lawson would hit both free throws for Carlisle and Brendon Rowe would steal the inbounds pass and score and with 40 seconds to go, suddenly it was 47-44.

The Vikings Keidin Pratt would get behind the Carlisle press and score as he was fouled. While, he missed the free throw, East was up 49-44.

After Lawson scored again, Rohrer was fouled with 18.5 seconds to go and made one of two free throws to make it 50-46.

But, Carlisle freshman Kolby Morgerson hit a 3-pointer with 10.1 seconds to go to make it 50-49.

East was unable to run the clock down to 4.3 seconds to go, before Pratt was fouled.

He hit the second of two free throws to make it 51-49 and Miami East fans held their breath as Lawson’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim.

It was a back-and-forth game where Miami East would trail in each of the first three quarters, but finish the second and third quarters with the lead.

In the opening quarter, East had a 6-4 lead before Carlisle went on a 7-1 run.

Connor Apple hit a 3-pointer to close the Vikings within 11-10 at quarter’s end.

The Vikings were trailing 18-17 in the second quarter, before a Roeth 3-pointer and three-point play by Rohrer gave them a 23-18 lead at the break.

East finished the third quarter on an 11-4 run to go up 40-34 and maintained the lead the rest of the way despite an amazing final minute.

The Vikings hit 13 of 14 free throws in the first three quarters, before making just two of seven down the stretch.

Roeth led a balance attack with 14 points and four assists, while Rohrer added 12 points.

Devon Abshire had eight points and 10 rebounds and Apple had eight points and five assists.

Kamden Wolfe added six points, five rebounds and three steals.

Lawson had 20 points for Carlisle and Rowe added 11 points.

Justyce Taylor scored eight points and Morgerson added seven points.

East was 16 of 38 from the floor for 42 percent, including four of 12 on 3-pointers for 33 percent. The Vikings made 15 of 21 free throws for 71 percent.

Carlisle was 18 of 37 from the floor for 49 percent, including six of 18 from long range for 33 percent. The Indians converted just seven of 15 free throws for 47 percent.

Carlisle won the battle of the boards 23-22, but had 10 turnovers to Miami East’s eight.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]