Head coach Rob Miller called it one of the “greatest wins in Shenandoah Valley basketball history.”

Miller was referring to his fourth-seeded Blue Devils’ 58-57 upset of top-seeded Marian on Tuesday in the semifinals of the District 11 Class 2A playoffs.

Based on seeds, records, previous results - and the fact that Shenandoah trailed by double digits heading into the fourth quarter - it would be hard to argue with him.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” said Miller. “We have played a lot of great quarters of basketball this season, and some great halves of basketball. But this was by far the most complete game we played all season.”

The Blue Devils (10-12), who beat Schuylkill Haven in the quarterfinals to earn a third meeting with the Colts this season, made the most of the opportunity. After losing to Marian by 29 and 14 points in the two previous games, the Devils took advantage of a depleted Marian (14-4) lineup.

“We need to address the elephant in the room,” said Miller. “Marian had a great season, but this was obviously not the same Marian team that beat us during the regular season. They were missing two big men who pose a tremendous matchup problem for us.

“But that said, I thought we played extremely well. I think we could have played with anyone tonight.”

Miller was talking about the Colts’ Dewin Concepcion and Brendan Lonergan, the team’s top two scorers and rebounders, who were ineligible for postseason play because of PIAA transfer rules.

“Give coach Miller and Shenandoah credit,” said Marian coach John Patton. “They never quit. They hit some big shots early in the fourth quarter when we were up on them.

“But I’m also proud of our kids. With Dewin and Brendan not playing, we had guys in positions they aren’t normally in, and guys playing a lot more minutes than they normally do. They are big adjustments.”

Despite the adjustments Marian had to make, it seemed well on its way to winning at several stages throughout the contest.

The Colts increased a 24-18 halftime lead to 13 points (36-23) on a Julian Cerullo jumper midway through the third quarter. When Dante Agosti drilled a three-pointer in the final seconds of the quarter, Marian still held a double-digit lead (43-32) entering the final period.

But in the blink of an eye, Shenandoah went on a 14-2 tear to grab the lead. The Devils’ run came in the span of less than two-and-a-half minutes and featured four different players hitting from three-point range.

Thanks in large part to Owen Kosar, who had 14 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, Shenandoah eventually extended its lead to 58-51 with less than a minute to play.

But a sequence that included a technical foul on the Devils, multiple missed free throws by both teams, and the final seconds being played with five starters (Marian’s Agosti, Logan Fritz and John Malarkey; and Shenandoah’s Kosar and Matthew Alvarez) fouled out, almost ended with an incredible Colts’ comeback.

With their lead cut to 58-57, the Devils’ missed a pair of free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining. Marian’s Frank Valente rebounded the second miss, and made a quick outlet pass to Chris Chambers near midcourt. Chambers took one dribble and launched a shot from about 35-feet away that hit the back of the rim and bounced out.

“From my view on the bench, you could tell it was right on target,” said Patton. “It turned out to be about an inch off.

“Coach (Mike) Brennan drew up what we wanted to do if he missed the free throw, and our kids executed it perfectly. I’ve been part of games where the last second shots go in, and part of games where they don’t. Tonight it just didn’t fall.”

HEAT CHECK ... Kosar was on fire the entire game, going 9-for-14 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the line.

NOT FREE THROWS ... Marian went 3-for-12 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, including two missed front ends of one-and-ones. Meanwhile, after making their first six free throws in the period, the Devils missed their last seven - all in the final minute.

COLTS LEADERS ... Agosti and Malarkey each had 13 points, Valente added 12 and Chambers chipped in with nine for Marian.

SHENANDOAH

Kosar 9-7-8-29, Matta 1-2-6-4, Mikita 4-0-1-9, Boris 1-0-0-3, Masimik 2-1-4-7, Alvarez 2-0-0-6, Lucas 0-0-0-0, Argueta 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-10-19-58.

MARIAN

Fritz 1-0-2-2, Agosti 5-1-1-13, Ch. Chambers 4-1-4-9, Ca. Chambers 0-0-0-0, Cerullo 3-0-0-6, Malarkey 4-5-8-13, Valente 5-2-5-12, Walko 1-0-0-2, Currie 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 23-9-20-57

Shenandoah 15 3 14 26 - 58

Marian 12 12 19 14 - 57

Three-pointers: Shenandoah - Kosar 4, Alvarez 2, Miksimik 2, Makita 1, Boris 1. Marian - Agosti 2.