3A South: Crispus Attucks vs. Evansville Bosse

In an up and down affair, Crispus Attucks sealed their first trip to the state finals since 1959 behind 30 points from junior Jamal Harris and 20 points off the bench from Zac Owens. Bosse was led in defeat by 30 points from junior guard Mekhi Lairy.

Bosse started off the game aggressively, repeatedly attacking the rim in both transition and the halfcourt with success, opening up a 9-2 lead to start. Attucks would get the play of the game early with a huge lob play to Jamal Harris, and Zac Owens would settle his team down, driving and dishing to teammates for open looks. Towards the end of the period, Owens and Lairy would get tangled up away from the ball, and a double foul was assessed. Bosse coach Shane Burkhart was none to pleased with the outcome, and let one official know about it. That call gave Lairy his second foul and forced him to the bench.

The tempo would continue at a fast pace in the second quarter, and Harris and Owens would again be factors for Attucks. They would need to be, as leading scorer Nike Sibande would pick up his second foul on a Javi Langley layup. Langley would miss the free throw for a three-point play, but Sibande would be hit with his third foul for going over the back, sending him to the bench for the rest of the half.

Sibande would remain on the bench to start the second half, but it mattered little to the Tigers. They scored the first four points in just over a minute, forcing a Bosse timeout. By the time Sibande entered the game, Attucks was up by seven halfway through the period.

Attucks would lead by six after three and eight with just over six minutes to go. Mekhi Lairy would have a say in the final outcome, however. The lefty guard scored 16 in the fourth quarter, almost willing his team to remain close. His driving layup would cut the Bosse deficit to four, and later, a putback would bring them to within two. Each time Lairy would make a play, however, Attucks would respond. Zac Owens drove for a layup after a Lairy bucket, then after a Lairy three, Owens would attack the basket again and get fouled, where he made both free throws. Bosse would not be able to get any closer than a single point with two minutes left, as Attucks made just enough plays to earn their trip to the state finals.

Evansville Bosse 18 19 14 26 - 77
Crispus Attucks 15 24 18 27 - 84

Bosse: Mekhi Lairy 30 points (10/18 FGs, 2/6 3Ps, 8/12 FTs), 5 rebs, 5 asts; Javien Langley 18 points (9/11 FGs, 0/3 FTs), 10 rebs; Jaylin Chinn 14 points (6/11 FGs, 2/4 FTs); Jaidon Hunter 10 points (4/12 FGs, 1/8 3Ps), 5 rebs; Jaylen Minor 3 points; Nicely Tsianguebeni 2 points

Attucks: Jamal Harris 30 points; Zac Owens 20 points (8/15 FGs, 1/2 3Ps, 3/4 FTs), 5 asts; Alex Cooley 13 points (5/9 FGs, 3/5 3Ps); Teyon Scanlan 9 points (3/8 FGs, 1/5 3Ps), 6 rebs, 7 asts; Nike Sibande 7 points (3/6 FGs, 1/3 3Ps); Derrick Briscoe 5 points