The finals are set for tomorrow at the Venture Express Great 8 Holiday Tourney taking place this weekend at Riverdale.
Clarksville Northeast ran by Maplewood 68-54 and Hunter's Lane overcame a number of furious Riverdale comebacks to finish off the Warriors 62-55 and set up the showdown.
Telvin James (Clarksville Northeast) was the catalyst with his steady point guard play and scoring stroke from deep. The talented senior guard accounted for 20 points and kept the tempo to his liking with several timely dishes to excited teammates and some sterling defense as well.
Alex Poythress (Clarksville Northeast) finished as the games top scorer with 21, on numerous offesnive putbacks, short baseline jumpers and a three from the top of the key. He had double digit boards and blocked several shot attempts.
Jeremy Purvis (Clarksville Northeast) and Greg Magee (Clarksville Northeast) added 12 and 10 respectively.
Morehead State signee Robert Wade (Maplewood) led his squad with 16 while senior guard Fred Lee (Maplewood) chipped in with 12.
In the other semi-final balanced scoring and tenacious full court defense are the calling cards for the boys at Hunter's Lane and they run this style to perfection.
Antwaun Vanlier (Hunter's Lane) took game high honors with 18 points and played sterling defense as well.
The Hunter's lane pressure makes you play at an uncomfortable pace and their depth allows them to come at you from the opening tap till the final whistle.
Joining Vanlier in the scoring column were DeMarco Starling (Hunter's Lane) with 13 and Robin Perry (Hunter's Lane) with 11.
Bobby Walkup (Riverdale) was high man with 13 and T.J. Chesterfield (Riverdale) added 10.
In the earlier games, Reece Chamberlain (Beech) scored 30 and helped pick up the scoring slack for the injured John Taylor (Beech) as the Buccaneers edged Independence.
Valentino Bryant (Beech) added 19 in the win.
Chris LePore (Independence) and Tyler King (Independence) led their squad with 19 and 13 respectively.
In the first game of the day, Blackman got a game winning layin by DeShawn Smith (Blackman), who finished with 10, to slip past Shelbyville 55-54.
Emmanuel Andrews (Shelbyville), who finished with a game high 23, fouled out with a couple minutes remaining in the game and Shelbyville clung to a one point lead with less than a minute remaining on the game clock.
J.D. White (Balckman) scored off a missed shot and put the Blaze up by one with :17 ticks left before a foul put Shelbyville at the line.
Washington made one before Smith went length of the floor and converted at the buzzer.
Jalen Smith (Blackman) was tops for the Blaze with 21 points.
Bobby Wilson (Shelbyville) and Trevor Reed (Shelbyville) added 12 and 10 respectively for the Eagles.
