Although South Davie’s boys basketball team ended up on the short end of an overtime thriller in the season opener, South is going to have a chance for its share of wins because this team can shoot.

The Tigers knocked down 12 3-pointers in the 57-55 OT loss to visiting Wesleyan Christian Academy on Nov. 15, outscoring the Trojans 36-12 from beyond the arc.

But the Trojans slipped through the back door, taking their first lead late in the fourth quarter and handing South its first season-opening loss since a 50-31 decision to Ellis in 2014.

“Neither team played great defense,” fifth-year head coach Germain Mayfield said. “We had a few bad turnovers late and missed free throws.”

That South was in position to win was a testament to eighth-grade guards Hayden Williams and Burke Rosenbaum. Williams, the top returning scorer after averaging 6.9 points last year, poured in 16 by draining five 3-pointers.

Rosenbaum, who averaged 1.9 last year in a quiet reserve role, was impressive in his first outing as a key player. With 10 points in the first 12 minutes, he topped his previous high (9) by halftime. He finished with 16 as he banged four triples.

Seventh graders RJ Jordan and Coleman Lawhon added eight points each, with Lawhon connecting twice from deep. Eighth graders Jordan Dickerson and Joey Nardone had two points apiece.

The first half ended with South ahead 29-27. Mayfield, though, wasn’t particularly happy.

“We shot it really well early,” he said. “We came out stroking it. We went up 10 or so right off the get-go. Next thing you know, we started taking bad shots and committing turnovers. We started throwing it away in the second quarter and let them back in it. Instead of being up 12-15 at halftime, we’re only up two.”

After the Trojans clawed to their first lead of the game, Dickerson picked a great time for his only 3 of the night, a bomb that tied the end-of-regulation score at 49. Neither team found the mark in the final minute of the fourth.

“We probably had three possessions and turned it over once and took two bad shots,” Mayfield said. “They had (the ball) last and we had a good stop on defense.”

In overtime, Williams and Rosenbaum nailed 3s. Wesleyan countered with two of their own. Down by one, the Trojans hit the winning shot, a 3-pointer, with seven seconds left. Mayfield got a timeout with :05 left.

“They tipped the (inbound) pass, and by the time we got a shot off it was after the buzzer,” he said.

Notes: The teams also went to OT last year, with South prevailing 33-32. … South has posted three straight winning seasons, including 8-6 last year. … The other eighth graders are Amani Hall, Levi Miller and Justin White. Seventh graders are Eli Branham, Tyler Brockwell, Trey’von Doulin, Micah Fryar, Zymorian Gaston, Cathell Hawks, Bodie Parker and Grant Wilson. Sixth graders are Corbin Angus, Hunter Daywalt and Gage Whitaker.