It figured that Damien Richard would be locked into getting Versailles off to a great start. That’s the way it’s been for the Tigers during their impressive postseason run.

“I was dialed in pretty good,” the junior said. “Once I hit a few shots, I got a lot of confidence and just kept shooting.”

Good thing, because Richard and super sophomore Kyle Ahrens each scored 21 points in leading Versailles to a 64-52 defeat of Leavittsburg Labrae in Thursday’s Division III boys high school basketball state semifinals. The game drew 9,514 spectators.

The Tigers (23-5) will meet Ottawa-Glandorf (25-3) at 10:30 a.m. in Saturday’s D-III state final also at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. O-G advanced by dodging Ironton in overtime in Thursday’s other semi, 61-60.

Richard scored 11 points and Ahrens 10 to account for all of Versailles’ first-quarter points. But Peyton Aldridge, a 6-foot-7 standout for Labrae, unloaded 16 first-half points to put the Tigers down at the break.

A 13-0 run that took up most of the fourth quarter secured Versailles’ second state final appearance. The Tigers lost to Midwest Athletic Conference rival St. Henry in the 2004 D-III title game.

“Once it came to the tournament it just seemed like we started all over again and there was something to play for,” Versailles coach Scott McEldowney said. “No, we didn’t expect (to play for a state title), but we knew that we were capable of it.”

Aldridge led Labrae (24-4), located in Trumbull County near Warren in the northeast part of the state, with 23 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

A junior, he hasn’t yet verbally committed. He and Ahrens had similar offensive games that will take them to the next level.

“They’re the best we’ve seen,” conceded Labrae coach Chad Kiser.