BIRMINGHAM — Midfield boys basketball defeated Sumter Central 64-61 in the AHSAA basketball Class 3A boys semifinals on Tuesday morning at Legacy Arena.

The Patriots held the lead for 6:06 of the game compared to Sumter Central leading for the remaining 22:15, but six minutes was all the Patriots needed to claim victory. They advance to the boys Class 3A state championship game, where they will face the winner between Hillcrest-Evergreen and Geraldine at 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Sumter Central's Jonathan Fitch finished the game with 21 points and five rebounds. Emmanuel Clarton finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Midfield's Jaden Sellers finished with 19 points and four rebounds while Aaron Adams-Martin finished with 15 points.

After trading the lead throughout the first half, Sumter Central took its first lead of the game at 15-13 with 1:16 remaining in the first quarter. The Jaguars held the lead for the rest of the first half, taking the 29-26 edge going into the break. Emmanuel Clarton scored more than half of the Jaguars first half points, scoring 16 and shooting 46.2% (6-of-13) from the field across the first two quarters.

The game remained close throughout the stretch, with the teams battling for the lead. Midfield regained the lead at 62-60 with 0.31 seconds remaining behind a clutch 3-pointer by Sellers, a lead which it never gave up. Sumter Central had two chances to tie the game or take the lead on its ensuing possessions, but it was unable to do so as the Patriots held on for the win.

REGIONAL RESULTS: Alabama high school basketball playoffs: AHSAA regional round schedule, score

SOUTHSIDE GIRLS BASKETBALL: How Southside girls basketball, community support has uplifted Brett Yancey during cancer fight

Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA Final Four: Midfield holds on to defeat Sumter Central