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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – The Cornerstone Christian Chargers’ quest for an AISA state championship rolls on after they cruised to victory in the Elite Eight.

Cornerstone advanced to the AISA Class A Final Four with a 46-36 win over the Snook Christian Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery.

The Eagles shot the ball well from deep to start the game with three first-quarter 3-pointers, but Zeke Adams helped counter those with two of his own. However, the Chargers still trailed 15-9 at the end of the first as Snook also added multiple baskets inside the arc as well.

Cornerstone started to turn the tide in the second quarter thanks to six points apiece from Malachi Adams and Seth Dillard. The pair stepped up for Zeke Adams in the remaining minutes of the half while the defense allowed just two field goals, including no 3-pointers, and six points total.

That cut the deficit to 21-19 going into the halftime break and set up the Chargers for a big third quarter.

Cornerstone held Snook to just two points in the entire third quarter and capitalized on that defensive effort on the offensive end of the floor.

Dillard scored five more points while Zeke Adams and Noah Schober added baskets in the third to take the lead and extend it to 31-23 going into the fourth quarter.

From there, the Chargers kept the Eagles at bay on the free throw line, going 6-for-11 from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes. Zeke Adams hit a pair as part of that stretch while scoring six points in all in the fourth as Cornerstone sealed the 10-point win.

Zeke Adams led the way with 19 points while Dillard scored 13 points and Malachi Adams finished with eight points.

The Chargers will now advance to play Abbeville Christian in the semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 12 at Noon at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex.