The Tupper Tigers pulled off a third-place win in the senior boys city championships, coming from two points down to edge the King George Dragons 78-76 at the buzzer.

In the game recap sent to supporters, team alumni and the press, Tupper head coach Jeff Gourley wrote, “The Tigers appeared listless and tired from the first three days of play and couldn’t seem to find the rim with their jumpers while King George shot 16 of 22 from the field in the first half.”

The Tigers scored only four points in the second quarter and were down 19 points at the half.

The Dragons spread their lead to 20 points in the third quarter but the Tigers turned their game around and tied the game. Wrote Gourley: “The fourth saw the two teams trading buckets but then the Tigers would get a stop and come back and hit a jumper and get another stop and before you knew it the game was tied 69 all.”

With 24 seconds left in the game, the Dragons held a 76-75 lead. The Tigers inbounded the ball and with six seconds on the clock, team captain Patrick Cumaual received a pass deep in the right corner and sunk a baseline three-point shot to edge the Dragons by two points.

The Tupper Tigers were city champions in 2010 and 2011.

The Tigers advance to the AAA senior boys Lower Mainland championships, held at various locations this week and next week at Kitsilano. They play McMath of Richmond 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at McMath.

The Dragons advance to the AA senior boys Lower Mainland championships, which they host Feb. 19 to 22. They play McNeil of Richmond 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.

mstewart@vancourier.com

Twitter.com/MHStewart