Southern Valley will play for boys' state title!

With plenty of fans cheering, Southern Valley's boys have reached the Class D-1 championship game thanks to their 47-39 win over Humphrey Lindsay Holy Family Friday morning in Lincoln. Players (from left) shown here are Colton Burgeson, Draden Best, Beau Baily, Brody Yant and Carter Bose. Southern Valley (21-5) plays for the title at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Lincoln's Pinnacle Bank Arena

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

LINCOLN, Neb. — Southern Valley never trailed while scoring a 47-39 state semifinal win over Class D-1 No. 2 Humphrey Lindsay Holy Family at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Friday night.

The Eagles (21-5) advance into Saturday's D-1 title game at 9 a.m. against Laurel Concord-Coleridge (25-5) in Pinnacle Bank Arena. LC-C has defeated two familiar area foes in Paxton on Thursday and No. 1-seed North Platte St. Patrick's, 65-49, during Friday's first D-1 semifinal.

Southern Valley controlled Friday's action following the 50-49 thrilling state opener with No. 3 Osmond on Thursday.

Senior Jaden Quinn hit the game's first basket en route to an unofficial team high of 17 points.

Junior Carter Bose quickly broke a 3-3 deadlock with his first basketball and Southern Valley never looked back.

The Eagles built a 9-3 lead which reached 20-8 midway through quarter two. Quinn, Bose and junior Clayton Berry all scored five early points for coach Tylor Fincher's team.

HLHF closed within 26-21 until Berry's consecutive baskets made it 30-21 late in the third period.

The Bulldogs never crew closer than 34-27 when Quinn quickly delivered three more key points to make it 37-27.

Junior Brody Yant's free throw along with another Berry basket all but sealed the semifinal victory at 40-29.

Complete stats and more details will appear in Monday's McCook Gazette.