Hammond -- Hammond coach Larry Moore figured he had to keep the game under 60 points to have a chance, and while he kept it close to that number it was not enough to hold off the talented Roosevelt Panthers.

Roosevelt used a fourth-quarter surge to defeat Hammond 60-49 to win the Class 3A, Sectional 17 championship at the Wildcats' gym on Saturday.

"We knew we had to slow them down and for three quarters it worked but I think we got kind of tired and they made a fourth quarter run to take control," Moore said. "They have a great team and I wish them well next week."

The win gave Roosevelt (12-8) its first sectional title since 2003 and vaulted the Panthers into the Plymouth Regional.

"We've been close a few times and feels good to win the sectional," said Roosevelt coach Larry McKissack. "We knew they would try something to slow us down and it worked for awhile. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves early but we made some adjustments and they paid off."

Thomas Pierce led Roosevelt with 22 points while guard Steven Jenkins added 17 to the Panthers' cause.

"We did not worry when we fell behind," said Roosevelt guard Demonte' Walker. "We knew that we had to stay in our game and we would be OK. It feels good. Sectional champions sounds real good."

Grant Brooks scored 16 for Hammond (15-7) and was the lone Wildcats player in double figures.

"I am proud of my kids," Moore said. "They did what we asked of them and for three quarters it worked. We only three seniors so I am already looking forward to next season."

Hammond came out in a variety of zones and used the defensive schemes to take a 15-10 lead after one quarter. Brooks early second quarter basket put Hammond up 17-10 but that was the high-water mark for the Wildcats. Roosevelt trailed just 25-23 at the break and Jenkins consecutive three point shots in the third quarter from the corner put Roosevelt up 35-28 and forced Moore to burn a timeout. The Panthers led 37-33 after three quarters and, behind 10 points in the fourth quarter by Pierce steadily built their lead.

Roosevelt made 13 of 16 free-throws in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats had to foul to stop the clock.

"It was a good thing that we had a game like this," McKissack said. "They're not all going to be shootouts like we had against Wallace. We showed we can use patience to win a game when we need to. I thought coach Moore did a nice job. He had a good plan and made us adapt to something different."