You always had the feeling that Marian was going to find a way to win.

The Colts never had comfortable control of their non-league game with Nativity, but they did have a “Stealth Bomber” as part of their arsenal.

So even when the Hilltoppers were playing for a last shot in a tied game in overtime, it still had a feel for the Colts.

That’s because Marian has Tyler Fritz.

Fritz is the Colts’ money man, and the 6-1 sophomore delivered a big payout on Wednesday, hitting a dramatic game-winning three-point shot in the final seconds to give Marian a 46-43 victory over Nativity.

“Yeah, I was nervous,” said Fritz after burying the last of his game-high 22 points that included five triples. “You know, it was such a weird game, we had it, then we lost it, and then we came back. I just felt that I had to make that shot.”

With the game tied at 43-43 and 2:28 remaining in overtime, the Hilltoppers decided to hold the ball. They used a pair of timeouts during the span, the last with 22.3 seconds remaining.

“We were not coming out of our zone,” said Marian coach John Patton about his strategy down the stretch.

But Marian did extend the zone for just a few seconds, forcing a Nativity turnover with 14 seconds to play.

It then was show time!

Then the stage was set for Fritz, who unfazed and undaunted, let the game-winner fly.

Marian won because it was patient, because it out-rebounded a very talented and athletic Nativity team, and because it has Fritz.

“You know, we started fast in all three of our games this season,” said Patton. “But the first two we couldn’t finish and lost them. Tonight, we were able to finish.”

Marian built a 14-8 lead, then watched the Hilltoppers raise a flag of their own and when Keegan Brennan hit a three with 3:21 to play in the second quarter, they had a 20-19 lead.

But Marian regrouped on the wings of Noah Stauffer, who had 16 in the contest, to take a 26-22 halftime lead.

The Colts looked golden with 3:54 to play, leading 43-39. Marian didn’t score again in regulation, however, as late field goals from Sincere Walker and Quandre Latimer helped Nativity force OT.

SETTING UP THE SHOT … Patton gave credit to assistant coach Damian Fritz, Tyler’s father, for the game-winning play.

ADDING IT UP … The Colts had an ugly floor night with 26 turnovers, 11 more than the Hilltoppers.

NOT LOST IN SHUFFLE ... Patton called Chris Retsick’s play off the bench significant as he dumped in eight points.

JV WIN … Marian breezed 44-26 in the opener, led by Chris Latoff and Seth Feisel each with 13 points.

NATIVITY

Muldrow 6-1-2-15, Flowers 70-0-15, Brennan 1-2-2-5, Bilansky 1-0-0-3, Latimore 10-0-2, Walker 1-0-0-2, Burke 0-1-2-1. Totals 17-4-6-43.

MARIAN

Fritz 7-3-5-22, Stauffer 6-3-4-16, Retsick 3-0-0-8, Mayleth 0-0-0-0, Tate 0-0-0-0, McLaughlin 0-0-0-0, Goff 0-0-0-0. Totals 16-6-9-46.

Nativity 12 10 13 8 0 – 43

Marian 16 10 9 8 3 – 46

Three-pointers: N - Muldrow 2, Flowers 1, Bilansky 1. M-Fritz 5, Retsick 2, Stauffer 1.