The Nitro Wildcats avenged their previous year's state semifinal loss to Shady Spring with a decisive 63-49 victory, propelling them to their first state championship game appearance. Nitro's strong start, fueled by 15 unanswered points in the first quarter and a 57% shooting performance, established their dominance. Ty Stephens's hot hand, particularly his five three-pointers, provided crucial momentum. Despite Shady Spring's attempts to rally, Nitro maintained control, especially with a pivotal 6-0 run to close the third quarter. Shady Spring's struggles were compounded by an injury to key player Jack Williams, hindering their fourth-quarter comeback efforts. Nitro's efficient shooting and rebounding advantage secured their victory, with Stephens leading all scorers with 26 points. The Wildcats' coach, Austin Lowe, expressed immense satisfaction, realizing a long-held dream of reaching the state final.