The No. 7-ranked Florala Wildcats took it down to the wire as they came away with a 54-49 victory over the Brantley Bulldogs on Thursday night in Brantley.

Brantley got on the board first before Shun White knotted the game at 2-2.

Brantley’s offense was clicking to start the game and the defense kept the Wildcats off balanced.

At the end of the first period, Brantley was on top 11-2.

In the second period, both teams continued to battle.

Zac Reese and Rashaad Coleman dropped in solid baskets, but Brantley was up 24-15 heading into halftime.

The Wildcats came charging out in the third period as they cut the Brantley lead down to 24-19.

Florala got a bucket from White and then a 3-pointer from Coleman cut deeper into Brantley’s lead.

Brantley closed out the period strong, but the Wildcats only trailed 38-31 heading into the final period.

Brantley got a couple of big buckets to start the fourth period, but then the Wildcats made a charge.

Coleman hit a pair of free throws and then a jumper from Athone Stone left the Wildcats trailing 44-38 with just over five minutes left in the game.

Mekhi James came up big for the Wildcats with back-to-back buckets that left Florala trailing 47-45 with 3:45 left in the game.

A few moments later, Coleman went coast-to-coast to tie the game with 3:20 left to play.

Coleman then came up with a steal and drove down the lane where he was fouled.

Coleman hit 1-of-2 free throws to put Florala up 48-47 with just over two minutes left to play.

Coleman continued to take charge for the Wildcats as he dropped in a layup to go up 50-47.

Brantley had a couple of chances to cut into the lead, but hit just 2-of-4 free throws in the final minute.

Coleman capped off the game with a pair of free throws and then a layup to give the Wildcats a 54-49 victory.

“It was a great win,” Florala head coach Troy Turman said. “That’s the kind of game we needed to finish and win. That’s a really good team and they are a tough matchup because of what they do. Our guys got it done and I’m proud of our players because they battled and they fought. They are starting to grow up and understand what it takes.”

Coleman led the way for the Wildcats with 20 points.

James finished the night with 10 points.