(Adam Hinch photo) Forest Park sophomore Vic Giuliani (32) goes up for a layup against Pickford during an MHSAA Division 4 state quarterfinal game Tuesday at Gladstone High School.

GLADSTONE — It’s on to the Breslin Center for Crystal Falls Forest Park.

The Forest Park boys punched their ticket to the Division 4 state basketball semifinals by edging the Pickford Panthers 45-43 in a quarterfinal contest Tuesday night in Gladstone.

Forest Park (25-2) faces Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (25-2) today at 4:30 p.m. Central time in the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University. The winner advances to the state championship game Saturday at 10 a.m. Pickford finished 23-3.

Sophomore Dax Huuki scored the game-winner on a putback with six seconds remaining.

The Panthers then quickly moved the ball to half-court before using a time-out with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Senior Tom Storey then missed a jump shot from the left corner, and the Trojans secured the rebound.

“I thought we had the W after Dax hit that shot,” sophomore Izaiah Tarter said. “I was confident in our defense to stop them. The last few seconds were building tension, but it was a good time-out for them. He was hitting a lot from out there. It was absolutely a relief when he missed the last shot. It feels really good to be going down to the Breslin Center, especially after losing here (68-51 to St. Ignace) last year.”

Pickford led 41-40 before Tarter drained a 20-foot jumper to put the Trojans up by two points with 65 seconds remaining.

“Izaiah kind of took over the game,” Forest Park coach Jason Price said. “We also have to give credit to Dax. He got on the boards and hit a big putback. Kevin is always the strongest kid on the floor. When we got the ball into him, they couldn’t stop him and our guards have learned to trust him. He’s a senior who’s smart enough to be patient with the ball when he gets it.”

The Panthers tied the score on a 19-foot jumper from the left baseline by junior forward Gunner Bennin with 28.4 seconds left to play.

“It was a barn-burner,” Price said. “We have to give Pickford credit. They never went away. We haven’t been in that situation all year. They did a good job getting the ball to half-court. There was a lot of strategy. We learned a little bit from Bessemer (in Saturday’s 53-42 regional final victory at Negaunee) about trapping on defense. Basketball is fun and exciting. You can learn a lot from every game. I thought the game was well officiated. They let us play.”

The contest was tied at 32 after the third quarter

Midway through the fourth, senior forward-center Kevin Guiliani grabbed an offensive rebound, then sank a jumper from the lane and a free throw to send the Trojans ahead 37-35.

Storey then tied the score on a 12-foot jumper and gave the Panthers a 39-37 lead on a 15-footer with 2:45 remaining.

Guiliani again converted a three-point play on a six-foot jumper and gifter to put the Trojans ahead 40-39.

“Their big kid (Guiliani) was the difference,” Pickford coach Tracy Peterson said. “He has great footwork and uses his body well. He’s tough to defend. In the end, we knew they had fouls to give and wanted to go to the boards. I thought we had a good shot. They’re a very good team, but we gave ourselves a chance to win it. We had a lot of good looks, only the ball wouldn’t drop. We absolutely had a nice season. This is a great group of kids who bought into their roles.”

The Trojans led 22-14 following a 20-foot jumper by sophomore Vic Guiliani midway through the second frame.

Senior guard Owen McConkey shaved Pickford’s deficit to 22-17 on a 23-foot jumper from the right wing.

Vic Guiliani then made it 24-17 on a slam on a fast break before the Panthers rallied to tie the score on a layup by McConkey just 3.5 seconds before halftime.

The Panthers went ahead 26-24 on a putback by junior guard Kaden Wiltfong slightly more than a minute into the third stanza.

They gained a 30-26 lead midway through the third before Kevin Giuliani converted a layup on an inbound pass by Vic Giuliani.

Vic then tied the score on a layup on a pass from senior Gabe Quevedo on the next possession.

A jumper from the boulevard by sophomore forward Carter Yiirs enabled Pickford to regain the lead before Forest Park tied the score at 32.

Vic and Kevin Giuliani scored 15 points apiece for the Trojans. Storey tallied 14 and McConkey had 11 for the Panthers.

Forest Park committed just eight turnovers and Pickford had 10.

Pickford 9 15 8 11 — 43

Forest Park 16 8 8 13 — 45

Pickford — Bennin 8, Wiltfong 2, Collins 3, McConkey 11, Storey 14, MacDonald 1, Yiirs 4. FT: 1-2; F: 11; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: McConkey 3, Storey 2, Collins.

Forest Park — Tarter 8, Huuki 7, V. Giuliani 15, K. Giuliani 15. FT: 5-11; F: 8; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Tarter 2, Huuki.