The Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cubs kept its perfect season alive by winning the  third round playoff game over Foothill College 83-78 Saturday at Haehl Pavilion.

With a packed stadium and a trip to state on the line, the Bear Cubs [25-4], (16-0) escaped with a win after fighting all game with Foothill.

Second-year guard Jordan Graves couldn’t wait for this game.

“I can’t lie, I had butterflies going in,” Graves said. “But once that national anthem played, they all went away.”

Graves finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Both teams came out playing aggressive on defense and the score 10 minutes into the game was 24-17 in favor of the Bear Cubs.

Foothill did not back down and went on a 10-0 run with five minutes left in the first half.

“They are a very good back-cutting team and they got us a few times in the first half,” said assistant coach Jared Ames.

After one half, SRJC lead 33-31.

Both teams picked up right where they  left off in the first half and continued to keep it a close game.

“We knew we had to keep playing hard and continue to play well on defense,” said first-year guard Skylar Chaves. “They like to drive and take in in the post.”

Chavez finished with 28 points, four rebounds and two assists.

During the last 10 minutes of the game, the Bear Cubs slowly started to take over the game. They sparked a 6-0 run with 6 minutes left.

After that, it was all SRJC.

Despite  multiple last-second efforts by Foothill, the Bear Cubs won 83-78.

“They were a great team and very feisty,” said head coach Craig McMillan. “We played a very well 40-minute game.”

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The Bear Cubs will travel to Ventura, California to play for the state championship.

“When it comes down to it, it’s just another game,” Chavez said.“We will take it one game at a time like we have done all-year.”