Denver North's matchup Wednesday against Pueblo County had the look of being a Class 4A state tournament game where the eighth-seeded Vikings were overlooked and visiting Pueblo County was overrated.

That wasn't the case though, as the teams went to the wire before North wrapped up a 41-40 victory.

The ninth-seeded Hornets (9-14) had a slim shot at winning after rebounding a Vikings missed free throw with 3.5 seconds left, but they took a while to secure the rebound and couldn't get a shot off before the buzzer.

So, how long has it been since North (15-9) has won a playoff game?

It's not that clear.

"I have been asking around and looking in the alumni center," Vikings coach Mario Lozoya said. "I think it's been 22 years. That's the best that I could come up with in terms of a win in the playoffs."

The lack of postseason experience was evident right away. North guards failed to work the ball in to leading scorer Richard Ascenzio. Instead, they fired away from the outside while rarely sinking a shot.

"Honestly, the reason the guards did that was just the playoff hype," Ascenzio said. "None of us have been in a playoff before. I think the last time (North) made it was when my aunt was here, and that was in the '70s."

The Vikings missed 11 shots in each of the first two quarters and scored only four points in the first eight minutes. Three-pointers from Leandro Ybarra helped North during the second quarter, but Ascenzio had to create his own opportunity by putting back an offensive rebound.

Pueblo County's Pat Vigil was just as jittery, missing all four of his shots, and the Vikings had a meager 16-14 lead by the break.

North fell behind in the third quarter, but consecutive three- pointers from Ybarra and Ernie Jacobsen got the Vikings to 31-29. The Hornets came back because Vigil regained his shooting eye and hit for 11 points, all in the second half.

Ascenzio, who finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, made four baskets in the fourth quarter. Three were on excellent assists from Jacobsen, who reverted to feeding the low post, and the other was on an offensive rebound.

The Vikings travel Saturday to Sterling. The Tigers (18-5) are the No. 1 seed in the Baggot Region.

Pueblo County 8 6 17 9 - 40

Denver North 4 12 13 12 - 41

PC - Pat Vigil 5 0-0 11, Garrett Hannafious 2 0-0 4, Lucas Vigil 3 2-2 10, Alex Leach 2 0-0 4, Tyler Cresswell 5 0-0 11. Totals 17 2-2 40.

DN - Sharod Kindel 2 0-0 4, Fernando Lopez 2 0-1 4, Ernie Jacobsen 3 1-1 8, Aaron Garcia 1 0-0 2, Leandro Ybarra 3 0-0 9, Richard Ascenzio 7 0-3 14. Totals 18 1-5 41.

Three-point goals - PC, L. Vigil 2, P. Vigil, Cresswell; DN, Ybarra 3, Jacobsen.