HARTINGTON - For the 5th consecutive year, the Crofton Warriors and GACC Bluejays will meet in the Mid-State Conference Tournament final.

Crofton kicked off Thursday evening with a matchup over the Pierce Bluejays, a team that knocked off the Warriors just over a week ago in a 10-point victory.

The Warriors had the fast start to the ball game, but the Bluejays hung at their hip.

Crofton held leads of 5 points at the end of the first quarter and 6 points at halftime.

The Warriors kicked off the third quarter by opening the lead to 12, but the Bluejays came right back with back to back three's by Skylar and Haley Scholting.

Crofton saw an increased role from Sammie Allen, scoring 14 points through three quarters after her twin sister, Cassie, was in and out due to an apparent lower body injury.

Leading by 5 points to start the 4th quarter, Sammie Allen was the scoring factor for Crofton, hitting big shots from the floor and earning opportunities at the free-throw line. Jasie Janssen was doing a fantastic job on the interior for the Warriors, making it difficult for Pierce to find a late bucket.

Crofton managed to extend the lead and take the win, 44-35.

Sammie Allen led all scorers with 22 points, Jasie Janssen with 8 and Jaida Allen with 7. 

Pierce saw solid nights from Skylar Scholting and Abbie Cone, each scoring 10 points. Haley Scholting scored 9 points.

With the win, the Crofton Warriors have earned their 13th-straight trip to the Mid-State Conference Tournament final, eclipsing the record held by GACC (West Point Central Catholic) of 12 from 1997-2008.

Naturally, on the other side of the bracket, GACC and Cedar Catholic met for a chance to play Crofton.

From the start, the Bluejays began to score at will, mustering a mighty 20 point first quarter. On the defensive end, they held the Trojans to just 6 points.

GACC continued the scoring, garnering multiple opportunities thanks to a strong offensive rebounding effort.

At the half, GACC held a 38-14 lead over Cedar Catholic.

Freshman Bailey Gerths had a 12 point, 10 rebound double-double at halftime to lead the Bluejays

GACC added 19 points in the third quarter to increase their lead to 57-20. Later in the fourth quarter, the Bluejays enacted the running clock after leading by as many as 40 points.

GACC steamrolled their way to a 66-31 win over Cedar Catholic, setting up a rematch with Crofton from earlier in the season, where they fell by 8 to the Warriors.

The Bluejays had four players in double-figures, led by 14 point nights from Izzy Kreikemeier and Addyson Luebbert. Charlie Dinslage scored 13 and Bailey Gerths finished with 12.

Anisten Wortmann led the way for Cedar Catholic, scoring 9 points.

Since Crofton entered the Mid-State Conference in 2012, the Warriors and Bluejays have met each other in the Championship five total times, including four straight. Crofton leads 3-2 in those games.