MERIDIAN - Sometimes third-place games at state are decided by one team bouncing back from the previous night's semifinal loss better than the other.

Other times, they can unfold just like any other close game - one decided by one or two plays at the end.

A steal and 3-pointer gave the Filer Wildcats a two-point lead with 56 seconds left, and Filer finished the game on a 7-0 run to beat the Kellogg Wildcats 44-38 in the third-place game at the state 3A boys basketball tournament at Meridian High.

"We battled the whole game," a teary-eyed Kellogg coach Jeff Lambert said afterward, after his Wildcats played for their first state trophy since 2005, when they were fourth. "I was hearing lots of people in the stands before the game, not even giving us a chance."

Saturday's game stayed pretty close throughout. Filer had a couple of five-point leads, but Kellogg always clawed back. And when junior point guard Gus Colburn knifed down the lane for a basket, drew the foul and sank the free throw, Kellogg (14-9) led 38-37 with 1:54 remaining.

Colburn then stole the ball, and Kellogg called timeout with 1:28 left. But Austin Beard of Filer stole the ball, and fed Logan Beard for a 3-pointer that put Filer up 40-38 with 56 seconds left.

Kellogg missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Filer made 4 of 6 free throws in the final 31.1 seconds to close out the win.

"We obviously wanted to win, but I love everybody in there (the locker room) - teammates, coaches." said Colburn, who finished with 14 points, six assists and two steals. "I'm really proud. Nobody thought we could do anything this season, and we showed everybody that we're a good team, and that we could make it here. Disappointed that we didn't win, but ... we were a young team, and we came together during the season and made something happen."

Senior Jesse Lambert hit three 3s and added nine points, junior Tucker Gust had eight points and five rebounds, and junior Heath Waechter had six boards.

"I don't think we handled their pressure defense very well," Colburn said.

Kaleb Whitlock, a 6-4 senior wing, led Filer (17-11) with 14 points, six rebounds and three steals, including a breakaway dunk late in the first half. Sophomore guard Connor Tews, Filer's only non-senior starter, added 11 points and five rebounds. Beard finished with eight points, four assists and three steals.

In early February, Filer handed eventual state 3A champion Buhl its only loss.

Filer 12 13 7 12 - 44

Kellogg 12 13 4 9 - 38

FILER - L. Beard 5, Tews 11, A. Beard 8, Whitlock 14, Moon 2, Kauffman 0, Richardson 0, Oyler 4. Totals 15-40 8-15 44.

KELLOGG - G. Colburn 14, Martin 0, Lambert 9, Easley 0, Waechter 3, deYoung 4, Gust 8, McDonald 0. Totals 13-33 8-9 38.