Colten Echols was not rattled.

Even after a pair of game-sealing free throws were rendered moot on a last-second 3-pointer that forced a free round of basketball, the senior forward for the Cullman basketball team made six consecutive foul shots in the overtime session and his team combined to miss only one of the other six attempts.

The seventh-ranked Bearcats made their living at the line in clinching a 56-51 overtime victory over Muscle Shoals in Thursday’s Class 6A Northwest Regional boys semifinal at Wallace State’s Traditions Bank Arena.

“Great game by our guys,” Cullman coach Stu Stuedeman said. “They executed the game plan defensively, not perfectly, but great enough to compete all game. They chopped the down, chopped the leg, and kept coming and kept coming. Once they got in a rhythm, we really played well.”

Cullman (23-8) got off to a quick 5-2 start in the opening period, but the Trojans answered on a 6-0 run and took a 12-10 lead into the second quarter. Muscle Shoals built a six-point lead early in the second period, but Kase Nixon nailed a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-3 run from the Bearcats to tie the game at 21-all inside the final minute of the first half.

Muscle Shoals’ Jalen Bowens knocked down a last-second shot to give the Trojans a slim 23-21 lead at the break.

Bowens extended his scoring streak into the second half, giving Muscle Shoals a 25-21 lead, but Cullman responded with a 10-0 run powered by Jake Dorough’s 3-pointer with 3:01 left in the third period. Luke Mosley added a pair of free throws at the end of the quarter, but Bowen’s opening shot was the only made field goal for the Trojans in the period.

After allowing a 4-0 run from Muscle Shoals to tie the game late in the fourth period, Brodie Banister hit his only shot of the game — a 3-pointer to give the Bearcats a 38-35 lead with 1:08 remaining in regulation.

Muscle Shoals (18-6) appeared to be down for the count following the 3-pointer from Banister, who was 0-of-3 from the field before the last-minute shot. A pair of free throws from Echols extended the lead, but Cedric Summerhill drained a 3 at the buzzer to force overtime.

Despite an inspired effort from the Trojans, Cullman missed only one free throw in the overtime session and never allowed Muscle Shoals to cut the lead below three points in the final two minutes of the game.

Did you know? Cullman advances to the third regional final in program history. The Bearcats made their only state tournament appearance in 2022, when they won the state championship.

By the numbers: The Bearcats shot only 32.6 percent for the game and were 22-of-26 at the charity stripe, where they went 13-of-14 in the overtime session. Muscle Shoals was 42.6 percent from the field and earned a plus-1 edge in rebounding.

Stat sheet: Cullman – Echols led the Bearcats with a game-high 14 points and four rebounds, including a perfect 10-for-10 showing at the line, and Kase Nixon had 12 points and two rebounds. Sam Duskin finished with 11 points and five rebounds, and Evan Wilson added six points and five rebounds. Banister contributed five points and four rebounds. Muscle Shoals – Luke Mosley came up one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine boards, along with five assists, and Jalen Bowen had 13 points. Summerhill had 12 points and five rebounds, and Luke Sasser finished with seven points and four rebounds.

Coachspeak: “Be poised. We’ve been here before and played several overtime games. Just had to get them back poised and under control. These guys worked too hard to go away and let something like that bother them. I’m upset with myself because I almost sold these guys out. I should have taken a timeout, reviewed the situation and fouled up three. They bailed me out today.” — Cullman’s Stu Stuedeman

“First and foremost, we want to thank God for the season we had and the team he blessed me with. Getting to coach this group was unbelievable. This team was one of the most tight-knit groups I ever coached. They never want to let anyone down. They’ve had a great season and a great career.” — Muscle Shoals’ Neal Barker

They said it: “We executed the game plan very well, besides a few minor mistakes. We just kept coming and didn’t give up. We stayed steady.” — Brodie Banister

“They were great. Colton Echols hit ginormous free throws. Every time we sent him to the line. That’s unheard of, and I’m just proud of the whole team. But we got keep going.” — Sam Duskin

What’s next? Cullman advances to face either No. 1 Buckhorn or No. 4 Clay-Chalkville in Tuesday’s Northwest Regional final at Wallace State’s Traditions Bank Arena.