ONTARIO — Crestview met Colonel Crawford once before, and it turned out to be the Eagles’ lone blemish this season.
On Friday night, we’ll get to see a rematch.
The second-seeded Cougars made sure of that on Wednesday night by denying Seneca East 52-40 in a Division VI boys basketball district semifinal game at Ontario High School.
Tyson Ringler topped Crestview with 21 points and Daniel Wells chipped in 16.
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore 
Credit: Tom Theodore
Luke Mason spearheaded the Tigers’ attack with 16 points, while senior Lucas Bordner added 15.
This was a contest that featured significant runs for both teams.
The fourth-seeded Tigers shot out of the gate for a 7-0 lead before the Cougars found their footing and closed the first period on a 14-4 blitz to move on top 14-11.
Crestview opened some space in the second period and cruised into halftime with a 29-21 margin. Seneca East sliced the gap to 31-28, but coach John Kurtz’s club closed the frame with a 7-0 spree for a 38-28 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.
The Tigers got within 40-35, but that was their last gasp, as the Cougars pulled away with a 14-12 scoring edge in the last period.
Seneca East finished the season with a 15-9 record.
The Cougars improved to 17-6 overall and will meet the 22-1 Eagles on Friday at 7 p.m. for the district championship and a Bowling Green regional ticket.
Crestview handed the top-seeded Eagles their lone loss of the year in the season opener, 56-48 on Nov. 30 in Olivesburg. C.C. reached the district finals by dropping No. 6-seed Western Reserve 51-46 in the other semifinal matchup.