Lacassine started the game in style and kept things interesting most of the way, but faded late in a 70-51 Class B semifinal loss to top seed and defending champion Simsboro.

Simsboro (31-3) advanced to face the winner of tonight’s Anacoco-Zwolle game for the state championship at 7 p.m. Friday.

Simsboro beat Anacoco 56-53 in last year’s championship game.

The Tigers led 35-30 at the half, getting a long buzzer beating 3-pointer from Jordan Crawford to take its biggest lead of the half.

The teams were tied at 18 at the end of the first quarter. Lacassine (32-7) opened the game with a 7-2 run. Cardinal guards Aaron Garcia and Taiwan Jones were able to penetrate the paint and get layups, but the Cardinals struggled from the perimeter making one of four three-pointers.

“We had great movement, handled the ball pressure well and got shots we like to take,” head coach Micah Rasberry said. “We just couldn’t keep them off the offensive glass. We knew coming in that would be an issue. You have to tip your hat to them. They are No. 1 for a reason. They compete.”

The Cardinal defense forced Simsboro misses, but the Tigers dominated in rebounding, grabbing 18 at the offensive end in the first half. Lacassine had just six defensive rebounds in the half.

Garcia led Lacassine with 13 first-half points.

Simsboro scored the first six points of the third quarter to stretch its lead to 11 points. A 12-0 run later in the half stretched the lead to 22 points.

“In the second half they went to a zone and we couldn’t get shots to fall,” Rasberry said. “We’ll be back because of the culture these guys have built. They work hard. We haven’t had many bad practices this season. I love these kids. They play hard and they play for each other.”

Garcia finished with 19 to lead Lacassine. Jones added 12.

Nick Maryland scored 19 to lead Simsboro. Chilaydrien Newton and Crawford scored 12 each and Shamrian Brantley added 10.