MANILA — Unlike the previous meeting between Rivercrest and Manila on the Lions home floor the Region 3-3A semifinal was a tight battle. In the end, the top-seeded Lions, would outlast the fifth-seeded Colts 65-55 to advance to the championship game against Osceola.
The two teams traded the lead for much of the opening period as the Lions would take a 20-14 lead. In the second quarter, Manila would open up a 24-14 lead, but the Colts would battle back to get within two points on a Demilon Brown jumper from the free throw line at the buzzer making it a 29-27 Manila lead at the break.
Rivercrest would take the lead during the third period, but Manila would end the quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 43-37 lead to the final period.
The Lions would take advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line in the final period to hold off the Colts. Manila outscored Rivercrest 25-3 at the charity stripe for the game.
The Lions (23-4) placed four players in double figures led by Daley Belew’s 18 points. Brock Birmingham added 17 points, Ty Wagner had 12 points and Trenton Thomas scored 10 points.
Rivercreat, 19-11, had three players reach double digits led by Brown’s 15 points. Kentavious Robinson had 14 points and Alex Askew had 12 points.