Senior Alexx Thomas struggled in the first half but with the game on the line in the Class B semifinals on Tuesday Thomas shined to lead No. 1 Lacassine to a 71-64 win over No. 4 Simsboro.

On Friday at 8 p.m.The Cardinals (31-1) will play for a state championship for the first time since 1976 against No. 2 Avoyelles Public Charter.

Thomas had three points at halftime but scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-high 20 points to lead the Cardinals.

“I couldn’t do nothing, and then we went into the halftime, and Coach (Rasberry) told us we needed to win the third quarter and just had to trust my teammates and trust myself that we could do it,” Thomas said.

He hit a pair of three throws with 1:19 left in the third quarter to give the Cardinals their first lead, 43-42, since the first minute of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Thomas scored six consecutive points, including 4 of 4 from the free throw line to push the Cardinals lead to six points with 46 seconds left after the Tigers (22-10) had cut it to four.

Lacassine won its 31st consecutive game.

“I’m really proud of my guys,” Lacassine head coach Micah Rasberry said. “We preach toughness, and I could not think of another word to describe this team after that game.

“In this atmosphere and being down and, the game of runs and kind of overcoming that, overcoming the atmosphere, and then going to the free throw line and getting it done to close it out. So, I’m really proud of, number one, our effort and our ability to adjust and be coachable, but first and foremost, their grit and toughness.”

Simsboro controlled the boards in the first half, outrebounding the Cardinals 23-18, especially on the offensive end. They had three rebounds in one offensive possession and Justin Prudhomme scored in the lane for a 22-11 lead. The Tigers took their biggest lead, 24-12, with 5:53 left in the second quarter on a putback by Jalen Outley, who finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

But Lacassine was able to match the Tigers’ intensity on the boards in the second half. Senior Kane Broussard had 13 of the Cardinals’ 50 rebounds, one less than Simsboro.

“It was very physical,” Broussard said. “You know, refs not calling much from both sides, so you just got to find a way and fight through everything.

“Trusting your teammates to help you and have your back, you know, just fight through and just find a way, another way to get the rebound.”

Ahmad Smith led Simsboro with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Remiel Prudhomme scored 16 points for Lacassine, while Jordan Garcia and Maliki Broussard added 11 points each.