Unbeaten Ada-Borup found itself in an unfamiliar situation on Friday.

The Cougars, who have been in just one game this season decided by fewer than 15 points, trailed Lyle/Austin Pacelli by three points at halftime and by as many as 10 points in the second half.

But the Cougars rallied twice in the second half to pull out a 54-52 victory in the Class 1A semifinals at Williams Arena.

The Cougars (31-0), who have reached the semifinals of the state tournament seven times in the last 10 years, trailed by three with three minutes to go.

Cougars senior Lexi Merkens made a three-point field goal with 1:09 remaining to tie the game. After a miss by Lyle/Austin Pacelli, Miki Lee scored with seven secondsleft to give the Cougars a 54-52 lead. Lyle/Austin Pacelli missed a field goal attempt at the buzzer.

Lyle/Austin Pacelli (26-4), making its first state tournament appearance, outscored the Cougars, 7-0, over the final 4:40 of the first half to take a 28-25 lead at halftime. The Athletics outscored the Cougars, 17-10, over the first nine minutes of the second half to open a 45-35 lead with 8 minutes, 30 seconds left.

“I took a timeout and told the team if we wanted a shot at playing for the state title,” Cougars coach David Smart said, “we’d have to stop trading baskets with them and that we needed to make some stops.”

The Cougars, sparked by Haley Poehler, responded with a 12-0 run to regain the lead, 47-45, with 6:40 left. Poehler scored eight points in the run, including back-to-back three-point field goals to close out the run.

“Haley hit two huge threes for us,” Smart said. “We’ve got to remind Haley to shoot sometimes. And, Lexi hit a huge three to tie it.”

Poehler scored 17, Lee scored 15 and Merkens scored 12 for the Cougars.

Brooke Walter scored 24 and Sarah Holtz scored 16 to lead the Athletics.

Unbeaten Ada-Borup had to rally twice in the second half to pull out a 54-52 victory over Lyle/Austin Pacelli in the Class 1A semifinals Friday at Williams Arena.

Lexi Merkens' three-point field goal with 1:09 left lifted Ada-Borup into a 52-52 tie.

After a miss by Lyle/Austin Pacelli, Miki Lee scored with seven seconds remaining to give the Cougars a 54-52 lead. Lyle/Austin Pacelli missed a field goal attempt at the buzzer.

The Cougars trailed by 10 with 8 minutes, 30 seconds left before using a 12-0 run to regain the lead 47-45 with 6:40 remaining.

Haley Poehler scored 17 and Lee scored 15 for the Cougars (31-0).

Brooke Walter scored 24 to lead the Athletics. 

Check back later for more on the game.