Spanish Springs had seen this script before: outplay a top opponent for at least the first half and build a lead only to see it dwindle and eventually evaporate into a loss.

So when host Hug almost completely erased a 14-point deficit in 5 minutes to begin the third quarter Friday night, it seemed logical the fourth-ranked Cougars would fall into the role once

again.

This was not going to be the night they got over the hump, as coach Kyle Penney had pined for following Tuesday loss

to Reno.

But despite nearly depleting foul trouble, a boisterous and hostile crowd, and a complete loss of any momentum, the Cougars rewrote the ending to that script and came away with a 62-52 over third-ranked Hawks.

"This was huge. Knowing that we can complete and beat someone in the top of this division is a big boost for us and something we can use for the rest of the season," said forward Adam Miller, who was a catalyst -- if not the catalyst -- for Spanish Springs regaining its composure and keeping alive its shot as second place in the High Desert League.

"We snuck in there, hung in there and ultimately came through," Miller added.

Hug came out of the intermission blazing with a 9-1 run. At the 3-minute mark of the third quarter, the Hawks (13-6, 5-2) had cut a 36-22 Spanish Springs' lead down to 39-38. Moments later Anthony Johnson gave his team the lead it's first lead of the game.

But Miller, who had a team-high 17 points, nailed a 3-pointer early in the Cougars' ensuing possession and Spanish Springs never trailed again.

"Shoot, I was just hoping it would go in because I knew coach was going to get mad at me if it didn't, because that wasn't a very good shot," Miller said.

Even in hindsight, Penney agreed.

"With the amount of 3s he takes, for him to pull up in that situation ..." Penney said. "Our shot selection wasn't good and even for Adam that isn't a shot we want. But when it goes down it's sweet.

So too, was the victory. It had been a long time coming.

The Cougars (16-7, 5-3) held leads at halftime in each of their games against league-leader Reno and was up in the waning minutes in the first meeting with Hug only to see notch in the loss column arrive.

"We just need to get over the hump," Penney said earlier this week.

In both the opponent and the manner it came, Friday's win would certainly appear to qualify.

"I hope so, but sports are weird," Penney said. "Just when you think you're over the hump you come out and play like a horse's rear the next game. Our league's too tough for that. We have to start playing our best basketball, so I'm hoping this win gets us the confidence that now we can go to the next level.

"We haven't talked a lot about keeping our poise and composure much. We've started talking about it a little recently because we've let some leads get away late. I'm probably the first to blame on not allowing them to keep their composure because sometimes I'm a raving lunatic. I think I was able to settle down there at the start of the fourth quarter and then our kids made a couple shots."

Even after Spanish Springs regained the lead Hug, which was led by Tre Johnson's 17 points and Duke Williams' 14, had its chances. Hug tired the game on its first possession of the fourth quarter but could never again get over its own hump.

"We came back from 14 down," Hawks coach Brian Voyles said, "but that took a lot our of us and making that second comeback, we couldn't do it."

Taelor Marchbanks added 10 points for the Cougars, including a pair of first quarter 3s that got Spanish Springs off and running. But it was Miller, whether it was hitting a timely shot or corralling a defensive rebound in traffic or getting in the passing lane, who closed things out.

"Adam all year long, honestly, he's our MVP right now," Penney said. "Not for the points he's scores but for what he brings to the table."