The Hart girls basketball team overcame a sluggish start and used a big fourth quarter to rally past Kent City 37-34 on Thursday and win a Division 3 regional championship at Shelby High School.

The regional title was only the second in program history for Hart and the first since 1993.

The Pirates, now 23-2 on the season, will face Buchanan (23-1) at Bangor High School on Tuesday in the state quarterfinal round.

The Pirates trailed 7-6 after one quarter and 19-12 at halftime. Hart only scored seven points in the third quarter, but played great defense, held Kent City to four points, and trailed 23-19 heading into the fourth.

Hart’s offense finally started clicking in the final eight minutes.

Hart’s Aspen Boutell (30) and Addi Hovey (14) in action last season.

Aspen Boutell hit a pair of jumpers and Abby Hicks nailed a triple to pull the Pirates within a point. Mariana VanAgtmael hit one of two free throws to tie the score and Addi Hovey snagged the rebound on the missed free throw and put it back to give Hart a two-point lead.

Boutell added two free throws, extending the Hart lead to four. Lexie Bowers nailed a three for Kent City, making it a one-point game, then Boutell again made two free throws to give the Pirates their final advantage.

Bowers attempted a three-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the game, but Vanagtmael had a huge block of the shot to seal down the victory for Hart.

Boutell led a balanced Hart attack with 14 points. Hicks had 10 points, six rebounds and five steals and Hovey turned in nine points and 11 rebounds.