The Marengo Academy girls basketball team will play for the AISA Class A championship.

They defeated Patrician Academy 45-41 on Wednesday in the semi-final round.

The Lady Horns jumped out to an early 16-2 lead over Patrician, and had a 10-point lead at halftime. Head coach Danny Stenz said they kept it up through the third quarter, but Patrician started hitting shots in the fourth quarter.

“They made a run in the fourth and pulled within two, 36-34,” Stenz said. “Then Chandler (Stenz) hit a three and we went six-for-six at the free throw line to close out the game.”

Brooke Smyly led Marengo Academy with 17 points, and Chandler Stenz added 11 points.

This is the first time the Marengo Academy varsity girls basketball team has made it to a state championship game, but most of the girls on the team play softball and have won three straight state championships.

“They know what it’s like to be in a big game,” Stenz said.

They will face Lakeside on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

“They have a good point guard and a good post player,” Stenz said. “We will have to do a good job of stopping them.”