Class 5A No. 4 Vigor watched a 17-point second-half lead dwindle to just 3 points in the fourth quarter of Friday’s South Regional boys semifinal game at Garrett Coliseum.

But the Wolves weren’t about to let this chance slip away.

Terrel Johnson hit five free throws in the final 30 seconds and Vigor held off No. 7 Eufaula 69-65 to reach the regional final next Wednesday.

RELATED: See Friday’s scores, highlights

“It all came down to senior leadership,” Vigor coach Jairus Jackson said. “Our guys wanted to extend the season. We lost at this point last season, and we didn’t want to go home. This is like a family. We want to finish the job.”

The Wolves’ roster has six seniors, including Johnson and standout forward Al Holcombe. The two put on a show Friday with Johnson finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists and Holcombe adding 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

“This feels great, but the job isn’t done,” Holcombe said. “Come off last year and the way the season ended, we came out determined today. Defense is the key for us. We feel like we are the best defensive team in the state.”

Vigor forced 22 Eufaula turnovers, resulting in 22 points. The Wolves trailed 25-17 early in the second quarter, but a 34-9 run led to a 51-34 advantage on Jermaine Tate’s layup midway through the third quarter. However, the Tigers (21-8) scored the final 8 points of the quarter, cutting their deficit to 51-42.

Behind TJ Coleman and Dy’Qwayshon Grubbs, Eufaula eventually cut the Vigor lead to just 59-56 with 3:25 still left in regulation. Coleman finished with 28 points, while Grubbs added 17.

“We got up big there, and I think our guys could smell it,” Jackson said. “We just told them to stay in the game and finish. We knew Eufaula wouldn’t quit. They have a great player in Coleman, who can score at will from pretty much anywhere on the floor. We just had to regain the momentum.”

Vigor scored the next five points on baskets by Aslan Jones and Johnson and a free throw by Tate and Eufaula didn’t get closer than five until a final 3-pointer in the waing seconds. Johnson went 5-of-8 from the foul line to help secure the win.

“I knew I had to hit them,” he said. “I missed some big free throws in an area game, and it cost us. At practice, we all have to hit two free throws or we can’t go home. I knew I had to hit them.”

Stat sheet: Vigor was 27-of-59 from the field (45.8 percent), 5-of-15 from 3 (33 percent) and 10-of-16 from the foul line (62.5 percent). Eufaula was 23-of-48 (47.9 percent), 6-of-13 from 3 (46.2 percent) and 13-of-16 from the foul line (81.3 percent). Eufaula outrebounded the Wolves 32-30.

What’s next? Vigor will play either Charles Hendeson or Headland in the South Regional final at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.