BRIDGEPORT — Elkins stayed within striking distance against top-seed Bridgeport Tuesday night for three-plus quarters in a Class AAA, co-region finale.

But the defending state champions pulled away in the fourth frame to take a 49-42 decision to end the Tigers’ season.

Bridgeport (19-4) will be the third seed in Charleston and will face Big 10 Conference foe and sixth-seed East Fairmont (19-4) at 9:30 a.m. next Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

The Big 10 has four teams in the field, including second-seed North Marion and eighth-seed Robert C. Byrd.

Elkins road the play of senior forward Landon Shreve and junior guard Isaiah Nutter throughout the night.

Shreve finished with 17 points, followed by Nutter with 11, including several assists to Shreve.

The Elkins defense, meanwhile, limited the Indians’ leading scorer, Anderson McDougal, to just six points — way below his average.

The Tigers trailed 24-20 at halftime after a late basket by Nutter and the Bridgeport lead never grew past six points in the third quarter.

A pair of Nutter free throws in the final canto brought Elkins to within four, at 41-37.

But baskets by Aryon Dodd and Daniel Riley gave the hosts a 45-37 advantage with 2:10 left to play in regulation and the Tigers came no closer the remainder of the game until a pair of free throws from Fletcher with under :10 remaining.

Lincoln Fletcher had seven points in the game.

Dodd had 22 points, including 13 in the first half, to lead the Indians, who led 17-8 after the first quarter.

Elkins finished with a 5-18 mark.

“I was extremely proud of our effort,” Tigers coach Amrit Rayfield said. “Night in and night out, our guys battled to the end.”

Elkins (5-18)

Lincoln Fletcher 1 4-4 7, Isaiah Nutter 5 4-4 14, Alex Broschart 1 0-0 2, Landon Shreve 8 1-3 17, Amari Lonon 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 9-11 42

Bridgeport (19-4)

Cooper Straley 1 0-0 2, Sam Romano 4 0-0 8, Aryon Dodd 8 1-2 20, Daniel Riley 2 0-0 4, Gavin Williams 2 2-2 6, Anderson McDougal 3 0-0 6, Jake Holcomb 1 0-0 3. Totals 21 3-4 49

Elkins 8 12 11 11 — 42

Bridgeport 17 7 13 12 — 49

3-point goals: EHS 1 (Fletcher), BHS 4 (Dodd 3 and Holcomb)