Eastview remained calm and kept playing.

Even when star guard Madison Guebert fouled out, No. 2-seeded Eastview never flinched, pulling out a 48-30 victory over St. Michael-Albertville to advance to Saturday’s Class 4A championship game against Hopkins.

“It was kind of weird sitting on the bench,” said Guebert, the reigning Star Tribune Player of the Year. “But I still wanted to do everything I could to support the team.”

St. Michael-Albertville, playing without starting point guard Rae Johnson, who was out with the flu, kept Eastview’s potent offense in check in the first half, which ended in a 21-21 tie.

Eastview (30-1) tightened up its defense in the second half, holding St. Michael-Albertville to two points for the first 10 minutes. The Lightning methodically built its lead during that stretch, extending it to 35-23 after Guebert hit back-to-back baskets.

“We stepped up the defensive intensity,” Guebert said.

St. Michael-Albertville (26-4) got one last breath of hope when Guebert fouled out with 5:10 left, but 6-foot-2 senior forward Sam Trammel helped snuff that out quickly. Trammel scored six points down the stretch and finished with a game-high 20.

“We knew we could do it, even with Madi out,” Trammel said. “We have a saying: We before me.”

Saturday’s final will be the third meeting of the season between Eastview and Hopkins, the two having split the two previous meetings.