BRAIDWOOD — Seneca never trailed Tuesday evening, but the Fighting Irish never built a lead over Herscher that could be called comfortable until the final seconds of the game.

The top-seeded Irish Irish won 43-34 over the No. 4 Tigers in Interstate Eight Conference Tournament semifinal play at Reed-Custer, but they never led by more than six points until Peyton Schrag made two free throws with 37 seconds to play. At the end of each of the first three quarters, the Irish led by four points — 14-10 after the first, 20-16 after the second and 33-29 after the third.

Herscher held the Irish to just 34 shots, of which the Irish made 13. Seneca's ability to get to and convert at the free-throw line, where it was 14-for-16, boosted its point total some, but it was still the lowest Irish output of 2013.