WOODSTOCK - Senior center Sam Mueller scored a game-high 21 points as Etowah defeated Kennesaw Mountain 68-60 in a double-overtime thriller Saturday night.

For Etowah, the win earns them a spot in the semifinals Monday in the Region 5AAAAA tournament where it will face Marietta, which upset No. 2 seed South Cobb earlier in the evening, and clinches a place in the state playoffs. This will be Etowah's first trip to the state postseason since 2007.

"This was a case of these seniors stepping up and making big plays" said Etowah coach Don Hurlburt. "At this stage, it's win or go home, and they just wanted it more than their opponents."

Kennesaw Mountain, trailing 17-10 after the first quarter, upped the intensity on defense and held Etowah to 13 points over the next 16 minutes. The Mustangs' Darryl Durham scored a game-high 18 points, and Tyler Brookins finished with 14. In the second quarter, Brookins executed a behind-the-back dribble into the lane and finished a shot to give Kennesaw Mountain their first lead of the game, 18-17.

After scoring only eight points in the third quarter, Etowah relied on Mueller and fellow big man Alex Garay to spark the offense in the final minutes. Garay connected on two separate game tying shots, evening the score at 48 with 1:39 remaining after Kennesaw Mountain had led the entire second half. Just over a minute later, he banked a shot off the glass to tie the score at 50-50. Garay would finish the night with 18 points.

Kennesaw Mountain's last chance to win in regulation fell short with a shot at the buzzer, sending the contest into overtime.

With 1:03 left in the extra session, Mueller scored what looked to be the game winner on a fast break when he dunked and gave Etowah a 54-50 lead.

"That's the best feeling there is" said the 6'8" Mueller. "Everybody came ready to play tonight, and getting an opportunity like that feels amazing."

But with 37 seconds left in overtime, Durham connected on a 10-foot jumper, drawing the Mustangs within two. After making a defensive stop, Kennesaw Mountain drew a foul, and Erik Edwards made two free throws to tie the score at 54 apiece to send the game to a second overtime period.

"We didn't shoot well from the perimeter all game" said Hurlburt. "You don't always want your center taking the long shot, but it was a good look" the Etowah coach added.

However, Mueller found himself at the free throw line with 3:29 remaining in the second overtime, and connected on two free throws to give the Eagles the lead for good.

Junior guard Austin Miramonti effectively sealed the game when he scored Etowah's first and only 3-point basket of the night, collecting his own rebound and pushing the score to 63-56.

"I didn't realize that was our only 3 pointer" said Miramonti, who ended the game with 12 points. "I know I had missed one just before that, but when I got the rebound, I had to take another because I was wide open. I knew I could knock down that shot."

"We got off to a slow start tonight" said Hurlburt. "It's been happening all season, but I felt like we played so well offensively down the stretch. Everybody made plays, this team got what it needed from every player. I'm so proud of them."