Joseph James hit two free throws with less than one second remaining to lift defending champion Heathwood Hall to a 38-36 come-from-behind quarterfinal win over Wilson Hall in the SCISA Class 3A state tournament on Wednesday at the Sumter Civic Center.

The Highlanders (19-5) trailed the hometown Barons 33-24 with three minutes remaining, but stormed back into contention with a 10-0 run.

James was fouled with six-tenths of a second on the clock and the senior captain calmly dropped in both free throws to allow Heathwood Hall to advance to a Friday semifinal game against Porter-Gaud.

James finished with a game-high 17 points, while Bradley Singleton (10 points) and Shelton Whittaker combined for 19 of the Highlanders other 21 points.

In other quarterfinal games, Cardinal Newman defeated Florence Christian 62-49, Porter-Gaud eliminated Hammond 65-57 and Laurence Manning Academy pulled off a 38-36 overtime upset win against Pinewood Prep.

Eight-grader Seventh Woods put on quite a show with 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, but is was not enough to keep Hammond’s season alive. The Skyhawks finished with a 14-12 record.

Friday’s semifinal schedule:

Cardinal Newman girls vs. Northwood Academy, 3:30 p.m.; Heathwood Hall boys vs. Porter-Gaud, 5 p.m.; Heathwood Hall girls vs. Pinewood Prep, 6:30 p.m.; Cardinal Newman boys vs. Laurence Manning Academy, 8 p.m.