Leicester's Mykeem Minton shoots over Grafton's Obi Melifonwu.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

Grafton's Josh Levy shoots from 3-point range.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

Nick Treu (14) feeds Matt Bradley (21) at the base line.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

Leicester's Pat Mahoney (15) charges up court.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Rice

LEICESTER, Mass. - The Leicester boys basketball team made it interesting in the fourth quarter, but the Grafton Indians held on for a 55-53 win on the road Friday night.

"Every team in this league is tough. There's no cupcake games on the schedule, so you've got to grind them out every game," said Grafton coach John Patraitis.

The Indians (3-1) led 31-24 at halftime, but the Wolverines (0-5) would not go quietly with that elusive first victory still within reach.

Leicester's outside shooters hit five 3-pointers in a 20-9 third quarter. The Wolverines erased a seven-point lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 44-44 tie.

"All we talked about last week was playing well for four quarters, and I thought we did that," said Leicester coach Michael Lynch. "We just didn't execute on offense on two possessions down the stretch."

There were three lead changes in the fourth quarter alone. Leading 53-51 with 3:28 remaining in the game, the Indians forced turnovers on consecutive Wolverine possessions, and Nick Treu hit two key free throws with 16 seconds left that would lock up the victory.

Leicester's Brennen Ryan banked one last shot in with five defenders surrounding him in the paint to close to 55-53, but with one second left, there was no time left for another possession.

"We turned up the intensity in the second half a bit. I was happy with the way our defense played down the stretch. That's what you need to do to pull out close games like this," said Patraitis.

The Indians ended up building their biggest lead in the last two minutes of the first quarter, stretching a 10-8 lead to 17-10, scoring eight points in the paint in that span and holding that seven-point cushion until halftime.

"Defensively we kind of got lost in a couple possessions in the second quarter where we hit a couple 3s," said Lynch. "They built a nine-point lead. We know we can come back, but we're burying ourselves."

Brendan Stock led the Indians with 14 points. Treu had 12 points, and Lonnie House added 10. Obi Melifonwu and Josh Levy each chipped in seven points.

Pat Mahoney scored for 14 points to lead the Wolverines. Mykeem Minton added 12 points and Zack Jacobs scored 11.

Grafton returns from the holiday weekend to host West Boylston Tuesday Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. and Leicester returns to the court Friday Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. on the road against Millbury.