MOKANE -- Jacob Blevins gave North Callaway the lead on a floater with :49.9 left, and the Thunderbirds were able to hold off the Eldon Mustangs on their final three possessions to claim a 54-51 victory in Wednesday's pool-play game in the South Callaway Tournament.

North Callaway held Eldon to six points in the first quarter to take a seven-point lead to the second, but the Mustangs opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 14-13.

The Thunderbirds responded with their own 8-0 run to retake the lead and took a 27-21 advantage into the half.

Eldon once again scored the first eight points of the third quarter to move in front 29-27, and the Mustangs were able to hold a 39-36 lead headed to the fourth.

Blevins' floater gave North Callaway a 52-51 advantage in the final minute before he and Clayton Moore each added a free throw the next two trips to create the final margin.

The Mustangs' game-tying attempt from half court fell short.

Austin Brown paced the Thunderbirds with 17 points, and Jamarion Glover joined him in double figures with 11 points.

Cody Tamm finished with a game-high 21 points for the Mustangs and Devin Hardy added 13 points.

North Callaway (4-5), the No. 5 seed in the tournament, will close out pool play at 6 p.m. today against Hermann. A win would clinch a spot in Saturday's championship, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., while a loss would push the Thunderbirds to the third-place game scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Eldon (2-9), the No. 4 seed, finished pool play 0-2 and will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the fifth-place game against New Bloomfield.