Double-digit scoring efforts from guards Darius Demby and Devin Spear pushed Adams County boys basketball into the MAIS AAA state semifinals.

Demby contributed 18 points and Spear posted 12 on the way to the Rebels’ 60-40 win in the quarterfinals over Kirk Academy Wednesday night.

“I thought we came out in the first half and played pretty well,” coach Richy Spears. “(Kirk) played hard, and they’re well coached We were able to hold on and make some free throws down the stretch.”

Adams County jumped out to a 33-14 lead at halftime. Kirk outscored Adams County 14-5 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 10 points, but the Rebels grinded out a win and punched their ticket to the semifinal game.

Andrew Ratcliff added nine points for the Rebels. Josh Stanford was Kirk’s leading scorer with 14 points.

Adams County is set to play Indianola for a MAIS AAA state-title birth 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Kirk Academy (girls) 40, ACCS 24

The second and third periods proved to be the difference Wednesday for Kirk Academy.

The Lady Raiders outscored Adams County Christian School 40-24 en route to a 59-48 win at the MAIS AAA state playoffs.

“The girls left it all on the court,” ACCS coach Melanie Hall said. “We fought hard and never gave up. Kirk just got hot, and they have some good shooters. We fought hard, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Anna McDaniel led ACCS with 19 points and Bailey Boyd chipped in with 15.

“This was very special group,” Hall said. “Their unity, and their belief in each other and always being grateful to God … Everyone (on the team) had a piece to bring, and I couldn’t be more proud than I am of my girls.”

ACCS finishes the season with a 24-10 record.

Indianola(boys) 69, Cathedral 45

Cathedral High School got off to a slow start, trailing 20-7 after one period and never recovered as it fell to Indianola Academy 69-45 in the MAIS boys AAA state tournament Wednesday.

“We got off to a terrible first quarter,” Cathedral coach Peter Arnold said. “They outplayed us.”

Arnold said his team was hampered by ankle injuries to two of his starters — Jardarius Anderson and Connor Mire — in addition to senior post player James Allen Coley being suspended for the contest. Arnold said his senior post player was suspended from a technical foul from a previous game.

“To win a state championship, everything has to fall in place,” Arnold said. “It wasn’t in the cards for us this year … You can’t beat a great if you aren’t at full speed.”

Anderson led the Green Wave with 10 points, while Mire, Derrion Batieste and Will Wallace each had seven points.