FRUITPORT – It seemed on Wednesday night that the Fruitport Trojans were destined for success – and nothing was going to stand in their way.

The Trojans entered their Division 2 district boys basketball semifinal game with a lot to gain.

They had the chance to be the first team to win 15 games in a season in Fruitport history, a chance to get another crack at rival Spring Lake, and a chance to bring a district title back to their school for the first time since 1939.

All those boxes were checked off, but it did not come without a great deal of drama.

The Trojans trailed 57-50 with 2:36 remaining on the clock but went on a 10-3 run to close regulation and force overtime.

Fruitport’s Collin Jolman tries to get a shot off over a Whitehall defender. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Then Fruitport hit a higher gear, outscoring a favored Whitehall squad 17-9 in the extra session to earn a thrilling 77-69 upset victory on its home court.

The Trojans will now get a third shot at their rival Spring Lake, which started the day by taking care of Oakridge in the other semifinal contest. Tipoff for the district title game will be 7 p.m. at Fruitport.

Fruitport is 0-2 against the Lakers this season.

“It was a fun high school basketball game,” said Fruitport coach Steve Erny, whose team improved to 15-9 on the season. “There were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of lead changes and it was pretty tight all the way through.

“They got up late in that fourth quarter, but we kept fighting and got a couple of great stops in a row.”

Fruitport’s Paschal Jolman gets ready to drop in a layup. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The Trojans were behind 59-56 with just over a minute remaining when Paschal Jolman made a huge bucket to cut the deficit to one point.

The Vikings had a chance to extend their lead but missed a pair of free throws, then after getting an offensive rebound split a second pair of free throws to take a 60-58 lead with 27 seconds left.

Fruitport missed a potential tying shot with nine seconds left, but the Vikings turned the ball over just inside the three-point line with five seconds remaining and Collin Jolman tossed up the-game tying shot with two seconds left from inside the paint.

“This team has been resilient all year long,” Erny said. “With that last play in regulation, talk about a memory that Collin (Jolman) and the team will have forever.”

The Vikings opened overtime with a three-point basket by Jack Houtteman 31 seconds into the quarter.

Fruitport’s Bode Anspach (1) tries to get a shot over Whitehall’s Camden Thompson. Photo/Jeremy Clark

Fruitport quickly responded with five points from Kyle Burke, on a bucket and a three-pointer.

Paschal Jolman tossed in a pair of baskets and Andrew Spyke had one, and suddenly the Trojans led 71-65 with 58 seconds left in overtime.

The Trojans closed out the game going 6-for-8 from the free throw line to seal the win.

“A lot of our guys are interchangeable and not irreplaceable,” said Pashal Jolman, who scored a team-high seven OT points. “When it’s time for us to step up for one another we are there. We have talent and it was good to see everyone step up.

“Every day in this tournament you do, or you don’t, and we put our heads down and just worked.”

Bode Anspach looks for a pass while being guarded by Whitehall’s Trannon Aylor (22) and Nate Bolley (3). Photo/Jeremy Clark

Fruitport led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter with freshman DayDay Williams leading the team with seven points.

The Vikings chipped away at the deficit during the second quarter and Fruitport had a slim 28-26 advantage at halftime.

The Trojans outscored Whitehall 14-13 during the third quarter to take a 42-39 lead headed into the fourth. Williams paced Fruitport with eight points in the third.

Whitehall pulled even by outscoring the Trojans 21-18 in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Camden Thompson, who led the Vikings with a game-high 25 points, scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans celebrate their exciting victory. Photo/Jeremy Clark

The Trojans took final control in overtime and gained one of the biggest wins in program history.

Whitehall, co-champion of the West Michigan Conference Lakes Division, finished the season with a 17-6 record.

Williams paced Fruitport with 24 points while Paschal Jolman added 15.

“When I watch the game again there are going to be a lot of things that are going to make me proud,” Erny said. “But the beautiful thing is we have a quick turnaround, and our guys know there is a bigger goal ahead and we are ready to get after it on Friday night at our place against Spring Lake.

“We had to play Montague in round one and Whitehall in round two, and if somehow we can get by Spring Lake that will be an earned district championship for Fruitport.”