Tuesday night’s sectional match between Mexico and Kearney was a storm on the horizon. There’s not much stirring, but you can see it coming.

Mexico held a slim lead throughout the game. Slowly, incrementally, the hosts closed in. Early in the fourth quarter Kearney’s Brennan Watkins sank two from the line to knot the game at 33-33. With 6:22 left to play, they took the lead.

What followed was a torrent. Mexico poured in 22 points in the final six minutes for a 55-49 win on the road, in the sectional round, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the Class 5 state tournament.

“We didn’t come all the way here to lose,” said Daeye Miller, explaining the outburst.

Miller broke open what had been a terse defensive struggle. It was 11-7 after one, 21-16 at the break and 33-31 entering the fourth.

But moments after Dawson Meinert drove from the wing to put the Kearney Bulldogs in front, Miller found himself wide open in the paint. Raef Yager whipped the ball through the defense and Miller restored the tie at 35-35.

It was a one-point game with 3:28 remaining when Isaiah Reams took over, first scoring on a one hand put back then spinning around two defenders for a roll in and a plus one when fouled in the act.

Kearney’s Ashton Holloway scored, but Reams responded, this time with a clever stop and pop jumper with an assist from Drew Blevins.

Reams wrapped up the evening with 20 points. But his first basket – a dance move lay up late in the first quarter – put him over 1,000 for his Bulldog career. The junior guard now has 1,019 points to his name.

“It means a lot,” he said of the milestone and the sectional win. “It’s only going to get better from here.”

Reams’ ability to strike anywhere, anytime forced Kearney to react. Where he moved, opposing Bulldogs followed, leaving a teammate open.

In the final frame, that was often Miller. With 1:30 left on the clock, Miller took a feed from Blevin for an easy two to stretch out a 47-39 advantage.

After Watkins converted a pair from the line to bring Kearney within 6 points, Miller and Yager teamed up for what looked like a perfectly timed alley oop lay up. Except that it wasn’t.

“I was just trying to throw it up,” said Yager, who was trapped and saw no other option than a desperation toss. “Then I saw him catch it.”

That was Miller, leaping after the ball as it soared by the rim.

“I did not see the basket,” he said of the accidental score. “I caught the ball and threw it up. I’m going to have to look at that one.”

While Reams was Mexico’s leading scorer, Yager chipped in with 13 and Miller 12. Blevins and Jordan Mitchell added 4 apiece and Michael White put in 2.

Kearney’s Watkins led all scorers with 28.

The Bulldogs faced Van Horn in Independence on Friday night with a spot in the final four on the line.