Sean Williams/MDN Continued solid efforts by Des Lacs-Burlington senior Carson Yale in the scoring column and on the glass were on display during the Lakers’ semifinal matchup against Central Cass at the Class B state tourney.

Starting their first trip to the NDHSAA Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament in a quarter-century with a gritty quarterfinal victory, the No. 5-seed Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers entered semifinal action on Friday evening determined to hand the undefeated No. 1-seed Central Cass Squirrels their first loss of the season en route to a championship-game appearance.

Putting on A+ performances at the “B”, opportune scoring runs and hard-nosed efforts in the critical final minute of play enabled Central Cass to produce the extra bit needed to edge the Lakers by a score of 64-57 to earn a shot at the coveted Class B state title.

Picking up where he left off Thursday night, DLB senior big man Carson Yale not only won the opening tip, but scored the opening points of the semifinal matchup with a layup in the lane over Central Cass centerpiece Cole Holzer to put the Lakers up 2-0 less than a minute into action.

Despite two deep three-point baskets by Squirrels senior sharpshooter Sam Kobbervig, DLB built on Yale’s early production with buckets by an energized Rylan Olson and Paxton Ystaas to push the Lakers lead to 11-6.

Continuing to net points at a fever pace throughout the first quarter, DLB stretched their lead to double-digits at 21-11 thanks to the senior scoring via animated finishes in the paint by Yale and a locked-in Olson from outside the arc.

Although foul trouble compounded problems for Central Cass when their lane anchor Holzer picked up his second foul at the 6:22 mark, second-chance points in the paint helped the Squirrels shrink the DLB lead before leveling the playing field 21-21 on a Mason Bosse baseline jumper.

Capturing their first lead of the contest with less than four minutes until half, another mid-range jumper by Kobbervig extended the Squirrels’ scoring run to 16-0 before free throws by Ystaas posted the first points of the second quarter on the scoreboard for the Lakers.

Nevertheless, putting their poise on display following a nearly 11-minute scoring drought, DLB’s Yale converted an and-1 opportunity under the basket with 35 seconds remaining in the first half to send the teams into their locker rooms with the Lakers leading 28-27.

Wasting no time putting points on the board to kick off second-half play, both DLB and Central Cass landed baskets like punches in a frenetic start to the third quarter.

Battling back-and-forth, the Squirrels pushed ahead 40-37 at the 3:03 mark before back end of a trip to the charity stripe for Ystaas narrowed the Central Cass edge to just two points at 40-38.

Carrying their largest lead of the game into the fourth quarter at 47-40, the Squirrels worked to balloon their advantage to an insurmountable point, but timely shooting from the perimeter by DLB kept the Lakers within striking distance down just 50-48 with 5:35 remaining in regulation.

Staying within one possession of each other down the home stretch, the final 60 seconds witnessed Central Cass X factor Kobbervig net the final seven points of the night for the Squirrels, ultimately cementing their 64-57 victory to advance to the Class B state championship.

Just one step away from the state title, Central Cass moves on to challenge Shiloh Christian today at 8 p.m. in the Class B championship at the Bismarck Event Center.

For Des Lacs-Burlington, they will take on Beulah in a battle for the rights to third place in the final Class B standings at 6 p.m.