With more than 2,000 enthusiastic fans in attendance for "Grace-Temple II'', Golden Eagle seniors Nick Van Horn, Davis Eldridge and Jeffrey Smith strutted their stuff Friday night.

Playing at McGilvary Gym on the campus of Tennessee Temple University, Van Horn kept Temple in the game in the second half, Eldridge hit a dramatic three-pointer to send the game into overtime and Smith sealed the deal in the extra period.

Grace defeated Temple, 56-53, for its second victory over the Crusaders in less than a week. Another Grace senior, Jonathan Dilts, hit the game-winning shot last week when Grace beat Temple in the Best of Preps Classic.

Friday's game was shifted to McGilvary because of a demand for tickets. The game was originally scheduled for Grace, which seats around 800. Officials at Temple University said there were approximately 2,200 at Friday's game.

"That was close,'' said Van Horn, who scored 13 points in the second half. "Closer than we'd like.

"Temple is playing well. I'm not sure we're at the top of our game. It will be fun to play them again.''

The Crusaders and Golden Eagles will play another regular season District 5-A game, and could meet in the district and region tournaments -- as well as the state tournament.

With the victory, Grace improved to 15-2 and took the district lead at 5-0. Temple dropped to 12-3 and 4-1.

"That wasn't a pretty offensive effort from either team,'' Grace coach Jon Mattheiss said. "We just know each other so well.

"Temple broke our offense down and we did a good job against theirs. That turned the game into an ugly, chopped up one. That meant individual players had to take over, and that happened for both teams.''

Temple took a 44-38 lead on a Dee Newson field goal with 4:35 left in the game. That's when Van Horn took over. He scored seven straight points and gave Grace a 45-44 lead with 1:13 remaining.

"Nick is a real competitor,'' Mattheiss said. "He's a tough matchup defensively. He presents real matchup problems.''

Temple's Seth Skogen gave Temple a 46-45 lead with 38 seconds left. Dilts missed a three-pointer, and Adam Vespie's two free throws gave Temple a 48-45 lead with 14 seconds left.

Then it was Eldridge's turn.

Event though he had struggled from three-point range all night, Eldridge drove to the corner and buried a three-pointer with five seconds left that tied the game at 48.

"Davis had not had a good offensive night, but because he's a shooter he always thinks the next one is going in,'' Mattheiss said. "We didn't try to call a play. I just let him take it and he did. I wouldn't have wanted anybody else to take that three.''

Skogen's running three-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

And then along came Smith.

In overtime, Smith's field goal and two free throws gave Grace a 52-48 lead. He made two more free throws with 26 seconds left to give Grace a 55-50 lead.

"Jeffrey stepped up big in overtime,'' Mattheiss said. "He's such a warrior.''

Temple's Josh Smith made a three-pointer with 15 seconds left and the Crusaders pulled within 55-53. Eldridge made a free throw with 14 seconds left for a three-point lead, but Skogen missed two three-pointers, the final one as time expired.

"What a game,'' Temple coach Dan Wadley said. "I don't think we've ever been beaten by the same team twice in one week, but we probably haven't beaten the same team in one week either.

"They know everything we're doing, and we know a lot about them. It came down to execution and skill. And it always boils down to a little luck. Seth makes that shot at the end of reguation and we win.''

Van Horn led Grace with 19 points and six rebounds. Eldridge and Smith added 16 points each.

"Eldrige is a clutch player,'' Wadley said. "What a huge three.''

Grace's 6-10 sophomore post, Carter McMasters, was limited to one point. He had 13 rebounds, however, and continually altered Temple shots in the lane.

Skogen had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Temple. Newson added 11 and Smith scored eight.

Van Horn fouled out of the game, leaving overtime to his teammates.

"Hey, we've got some great seniors and Carter is a mature sophomore,'' he said. "It was easy for them to step up. And Davis' shot was awesome.''

Mattheiss said the next district game could wind up at McGilvary.

"I just want to thank all the fans,'' he said. "What an incredible atmosphere.

"I'm just glad we got the win. They would have killed me if we had lost after switching the game over here.''

GRACE GIRLS 46, TEMPLE 36: Grace roared to a 22-9 halftime lead, but Temple fought back in the third quarter.

After Angela Kemp and Candace Dyer made free throws for Temple to open the fourth quarter, the Lady Crusaders had pulled within 33-28.

Erica Elleman then hit a field goal for Grace, Kyndall Blake made two free throws and Liz Carroll followed with a three-pointer. That gave Grace a 37-28 lead and the Lady Golden Eagles held on for the victory.

Grace improved to 14-3 overall and 5-0 in District 5-A. Temple dropped to 8-5 and 3-2.

Carroll led Grace with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals. Christin Moss, Jennifer Parshall and Blake added 10 points each.

Grace played without its only senior -- Michaela Estill -- who is out 2-3 weeks with an ankle injury.

Danielle Rector paced Temple with 20 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Kemp added nine points.

SUMMARIES

Girls

TEMPLE (36) -- Angela Kemp 9, P.J. Sexton 2, Danielle Rector 20, Janette Elliott, Mary Shiraef, Candace Dyer 5, Kellie Robinson, Esther Williams, Brooke Johnson, Amanda Jordan.

GRACE (56) -- Christin Moss 10, Diana Patrick, Riley Daniels, Liz Carroll 11, Jessica Thompson 2, Jennifer Parshall 10, Erica Elleman 2, Kaylan Dilts, Savannah Hughes, Meredith Estill 1, Kyndall Blake 10.

Temple.......6 3 17 10 -- 36
Grace.......12 10 11 13 -- 46
Three-point goals -- Carroll, Parshall.

Boys

TEMPLE (53) -- Jeremy Sexton 3, James Wallace 3, James McCormack, Josh Smith 8, Seth Skogen 21, Joey Shiraef, Adam Vespie 7, Dee Newson 11.

GRACE (56) -- Davis Eldridge 16, Jon Wheeler, Matt Lowery 1, Jeffrey Smith 16, Nick Van Horn 19, Jonathan Dilts 3, Carter McMasters 1.

Temple.......11 13 11 13 5 -- 53
Grace........10 12 12 14 8 -- 56
Three-point goals -- Smith 2, Vespie, Wallace, Skogen, Newson, Dilts, Edridge.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)