Veritas Christian’s boys basketball team couldn’t have asked for much more in the first three quarters.

The Eagles were pushing the tempo, getting to the basket, and most importantly, playing through Tucker Flory, who led the Eagles with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

However, a bad fourth quarter came back to bite Veritas in a 62-58 home loss to St. Mary’s on Tuesday night at East Lawrence Rec Center.

“I think we had some stretches where we did some really good things,” coach Brett Temple said. “We were getting out in transition. We were moving the ball up the court and beating them down there. I like our chances when we’re doing that.”

Instead of attacking in transition, the Eagles (7-14) were forced to play offense in the half-court. Shots that were coming two feet away from the basket were all of the sudden coming from 20 feet. And perhaps most importantly, Flory only attempted two shots and scored two points in the final quarter.

“When our guards are getting it down low that’s when we’re at our best,” Flory said. “We just started forcing up shots (in the fourth quarter).”

Temple thought his team got tight, and the Crusaders took advantage and became the aggressors. All 21 of their fourth quarter points came in the paint or at the free-throw line, which was a stark contrast from the first three quarters, where the Eagles were able to force them to settle for jump shots.

Temple said it was a direct result of his team being outworked and unable to grab defensive rebounds.

And yet, Veritas still had chances late in the game.

The Crusaders took a 60-55 lead with just over two minutes remaining, but they missed their next five free throws to give the Eagles life. But Trey Huslig and Quinton Donohoe each missed layups, and the Eagles turned the ball over on their next possession to seal their fate.

“That’s not typical of them (guards),” Flory said. “They’ll make those layups. Things weren’t falling tonight.”

However, Flory thought the first three quarters was some of the best basketball the team has played all season. They were playing through the post players and getting to the basket.

When that happens, he said they can put up points in bunches.

Veritas jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game, and scored 22 points in the second quarter on 6-of-13 shooting from the field and 9-of-12 shooting from the line. Michael Rask (11 points) and Weston Flory (10) finished in double figures.

Temple said the team can take a lot of positives from their play for a majority of the game, but with the season winding down, he hopes they can sustain it for four quarters moving forward.

“We just have to come together as a team and focus,” Temple said. “We have a couple of games to get better before our state tournament.”

ST. MARY’S (62)

Rob Clancy 5-9 6-10 16, Tom Treacy 1-7 0-0 2, Roy Clancy 2-5 2-5 6, Anthony Harpe 8-22 5-8 23, Dominic Dellalo 7, Matt Whitehead 2-7 4-5 8. Total: 21-61 18-33 62.

VERITAS (58)

Weston Flory 5-11 0-0 10, Trey Huslig 2-11 1-2 5, Jackson Rau 1-2 0-0 2, Kammal Dowdell 3-12 1-2 8, Quinton Donohoe 0-2 0-0 0, Michael Rask 4-9 2-2 11, Peyton Donohoe 0-2 0-0 0, Tucker Flory 6-10 8-14 20, Kyle Weinhold 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 21-59 14-22 58.

St. Mary’s 14 22 5 21 — 62

Veritas 14 22 9 13 — 58

Three Point goals: St. Mary’s 2-22 (Harpe 2); Veritas 2-12 (Dowdell 1, Rask 1). Fouled out: T. Flory. Turnovers: St. Mary’s 14; Veritas 13.