MOKANE - North Callaway junior guard Cody Cash logged a game-high 15 points as the No. 5 seed Thunderbirds tripped No. 1 Hermann 44-40 in the semifinals of the South Callaway Invitational Tournament on Thursday night.
The victory sends North Callaway (5-6) to the championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Thunderbirds will square off against the winner of Thursday night's second semifinal between No. 2 seed Montgomery County and No. 3 New Haven for the title.
"We're really excited about the win," North Callaway head coach Matt Miller said after the Thunderbirds knocked off Hermann. "The team executed the game plan just like it was written up.
"Everybody contributed and we're very excited about playing for the championship."
North Callaway was on top 12-6 after one quarter and went into halftime with a 25-19 edge. The Thunderbirds protected a 35-30 lead entering the fourth quarter and were able to fend off the Bearcats.
Senior guard Gabe Cash and sophomore guard Webb Langworthy - who hit three critical 3-pointers in the second quarter - chipped in with nine points apiece for North Callaway.
Trent Anderson paced Hermann (8-4) with 14 points. Boyd Phillips provided all 12 of his points on four 3s.