David Mofunanya saw his team down double-digits at the half, but it was a sizzling "show time" performance in the third quarter that brought the Raiders back from the brink.

With 15 seconds left, Mofunanya toed the line with a chance to seal the victory and make it a two possession game for the Cowboys. The Pascack Hills crowd behind him piercingly chanted "choke" and "pressure," but the Raider only heard one voice, while he was in deep thought.

It was his own.

"I just asked myself, ‘David are you a prime time player?’ and sinking both free throws answered that," said Mofunanya. "It was only that question in my head and I kept asking it over and over again."

The Raiders went on to get the 72-65 victory and the North 1, Group 2 state sectional title, but it took a spectacular second half and clutch 13-0 run to seal the game.

Again it was the duo of Mofunanya with a team-high 29 points and Naeem Carter scoring 15 that made the difference.

"The last four minutes was tremendous," said Englewood coach Gerald Akridge. "We played really well in the first quarter, but fell apart in the second. But our players were relentless and never stopped."

The Raiders coach went on to talk about the leaders on this squad, especially Josh Jones and how "other kids fed off of his defensive effort." The Raiders have preached defense all season long and the fourth quarter was a prime example of the intensity and pressure Englewood is capable of providing.

"I just tried my hardest and I was scared in the fourth, but I kept thinking to myself that we didn’t come here and go this far to lose," said Jones. "We lost twice in the sectional finals since I’ve been on the team and it’s nice to finally get the job done."

When Englewood switched to full-court pressure, it began the Cowboy collapse. This was all just part of the plan, as teams have a hard time keeping up with the run-and-gun Raiders down the stretch.

"Keeping it at a fast pace helps us out in the second half, as the other team’s legs start to go and that’s when we take control," said point guard Adam Marrakchi. "We really bought into the defensive mindset and intensity of the game."

Pascack Hills looked unstoppable in the second quarter outscoring Englewood 18-6 by utilizing their fluid screens and tailing cutters. The Raiders had a hard time keeping up and were unable to solidify an interior defense.

"We lacked on our defense and we couldn’t get the rebounds," said Carter. "We were unable to keep up on screens and they set really good picks."

At the half the Raiders trailed 36-25.

"I told them that we’re close and this was when we had three starters sitting, so I knew when those starters went back in the game, we’d be in good hands," said Akridge. "We were able to come back cause we believed in ourselves, like we have all year long."

In the third quarter, Mofunanya did it all and not only did he explode with 14 points in the quarter, but preached up and down the sidelines trying to rally his troops.

"I knew what I had to do," said Mofunanya. "I played with heart and in tonight’s game that’s what it came down to – who wanted it more."

Carter heeded to call and was the catalyst for the 13-0 run penetrating the Pascack Hills interior defense for the three-point play to cut the lead to 65-62 with 2:58 remaining. On the next possession, Jones made the most of a Cowboy turnover with a layup to close the gap to 65-64.

The Raiders tightened their defense and made sure the Cowboys didn’t put up any more points in the game. The enthusiastic crowd was on its feet, as Englewood had the momentum.

Carter really gave the fans something to cheer about when he drained a three-pointer to put the Raiders up for the first time since the first quarter, 67-65.

"Since states started, I have been praying for our team and I told them we had to hit our shots," said Carter. "God made that shot go in. My mindset was that I had to be confident taking that shot."

Mofunanya was fouled after a Cowboy miss and sent to the line, where he made the backend of two free throws to put Englewood ahead 68-65. It was still a one-possession game when the top scorer iced it in the clutch. Dante Drakeford capped the night with a put-back in the final seconds for the final two points.

All five starters chipped in for the fantastic finish in the fourth, as they outscored the Cowboys 25-14. To have seniors at all starting five positions is a special aspect that Carter feels makes all the difference in the world.

"It’s great to have all of us be seniors because we know how each other plays," said Carter. "Tonight we showed what we can accomplish when we play together."

Englewood will take on Lincoln in the Group 2 North final at Vernon High School Thursday.