With the game and the season hanging in the balance, the seniors of the Wareham boys basketball team took control and delivered a come-from-behind overtime victory in the first round of the Division III South Sectional Tournament Thursday night.

Tied at 56 at the end of regulation, the Vikings exploded for 18 points in the four-minute overtime period to deliver a 74-66 win against Abington.

"We snatched victory from the jaws of defeat," said Wareham coach Kevin Brogioli. "These guys gutted it out at the end."

After a sloppy first quarter by both teams, Wareham jumped out to a 27-15 lead in the second quarter, only to see that lead disappear. The teams entered halftime tied at 27, but Wareham trailed behind for the rest of the second half and were down 56-51 with only 1:30 remaining.

With 1:18 left, senior Mike Labonte hit a corner three-point shot that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Less than a minute later, senior Andy White tied the game at 56. Then, with seven seconds remaining, sophomore Jovahn Thomas made game-saving block on defense.

"It was a huge play," Brogioli said. "Jovahn has been improving all season on defense."

White missed a jump shot as time expired, but would take over the game in overtime.

White scored 11 of his game-high 30 points in the overtime period, and Labonte added three, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the second half and overtime.

"Give credit to the seniors," White said. "They showed leadership down the stretch when the needed them."

"I'm happy," Brogioli added. "I've got a headache, but I'm happy."

The Vikings now go on to face Martha's Vineyard in the second round of the tournament.

This will be the fourth consecutive year Wareham and Martha's Vineyard have faced off in the playoffs. The Vikings beat Martha's Vineyard to win the Div. III title in 2012, but were knocked out of the playoffs by the Vineyarders the last two years. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 in Wareham.