BAY MINETTE — The top two seeds in the area will meet in the finals after the Daphne Trojans used a 16-9 fourth quarter to extend their tight lead and defeat the Robertsdale Golden Bears 61-48 and advance to the finals of the 6A Area 3 tournament.

Both teams struggled to score the basketball early in the first quarter when each team was only able to muster 10 points. On the backs of Senior Chris Sain and Andrew Smith the Trojans entered the locker room at half time leading 27-22.

Sain led the way for the Trojans in the first half scoring 11 points while Smith added six.

Sain continued to put up numbers for the Trojans in the second half and eventually led the team in scoring with 22 points, but junior Devonte Young became the story of the second half when he put up13 points leading the way for the Trojans.

The win clinches the season series for the Trojans, who now have beaten the Bears in two out of the season’s three meetings.

“They (Robertsdale) came out to play tonight and they played really hard. They felt they had the same chance as us to come out and win tonight and they proved that in the first half,” Daphne head coach Cedric Yelding said. “We finally settled down in the second half and took control of the game.”

The Trojans took control in the second half due in large parts to costly turnovers by the Bears offense.

“In high school basketball that always makes a difference. The team that takes care of the ball and makes a few free throws has a great chance to win the game,” Yelding said.

Even with the turnovers the Bears were able to stay in the game due in large part to the play of senior Alphonso Stewart, who put up a game high 23 points and converted 8 of his 9 free throws on the night.

After defeating the Bears the Trojans advanced to play in the area tournament finals against number one seed Baldwin County on Monday at 7 p.m. at BCHS.