MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Coach Mark Dragoo didn't have an answer for Clarksville Academy twins Malcolm and Martin Smith in the semifinals of the TSSAA State Basketball Tournament.

The Patriots from CSAS gave it everything they had, but they didn't have a match for the two 6-5 juniors as the Cougars advanced to Saturday's championship game with the 59-50 victory in the first game of the day at MTSU's Murphy Center.

The Cougars are the top-ranked Class A team and Malcolm Smith is a finalist for Class A Mr. Basketball.

Both showed why after Friday morning's performance.

"We tried to double the post, but we just didn't get there quick enough," said Dragoo in his post-game comments.

"We wanted to force turnovers with our defense and we should have been up at the half, but offensively, we weren't very good and that hurt.

"We've had a great season and we don't have anything to be ashamed of. Unfortunately, only one team leaves here happy.

"We just need to remember what this feels like because we have a young team and should be back next year," Dragoo added.

CSAS had a 12-9 lead after the first quarter, but Montel Lavelanet scored on a putback with 12 seconds remaining to give the Cougars a 20-19 edge at intermission.

Shariff Cobb canned a jumper from the free throw line with 2:53 showing in the third quarter, but Clarksville Academy scored the next seven points to extend its lead to 33-24 with less than a minute remaining.

Alex Stallion's three free throws at the end of the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 33-27, but that's when Malcolm Smith took over.

With Smith scoring eight of the first 10 points in the final eight minutes, the Cougars were able to slowly extend the lead.

With time becoming a factor, the Patriots were forced to foul. That plan didn't work as the Cougars responded by hitting 12 of 17 from the free throw stripe in the waning minutes.

Cougar coach Josh Smith felt like his team's ability to handle the Patriot defensive pressure was a key to the victory.

"We felt like if we could handle their press that we would win the game. We were able to limit our turnovers and that was a plus, but Martin (Smith) got off to a good start and that set the tenpo for us.

"Offensively, we focused on getting the ball inside. Malcolm (Smith) had another great game, but I've come to expect that from him. He's a great player.

Both of the Smiths finished with double doubles.

Malcolm had 29 points and 15 rebounds while Martin added 15 points, 10 boards and six blocks.

Heath Dyer, who scored eight points in the fourth quarter, was next with nine.

Stallion was tops for CSAS with 23 points and six rebounds.

Jackson Lenoir followed with nine points and seven boards while Justin Austin added eight points and five rebounds.

Clarksville Academy finished by hitting 46.2 percent of its field goal attempts (18-39) while CSAS was just 17 of 60 for 28.3 percent after just 7 of 27 in the first half for 25.9 percent.

The Cougars won the rebound battle, 37-36.

Clarksville Academy is now 34-2 while the Patriots finish the year at 28-7.

Clarksville Academy 9 11 13 26 -- 59
Arts & Sciences 12 7 8 23 -- 50

CLARKSVILLE ACADEMY (59) -- Hyams, Dyer 9, Russell 3, Martin Smith 15, Malcolm Smith 29, Lavelanet 2, Crozier 1.

ARTS & SCIENCE (50) -- Stallion 23, Dodds 3, Cobb 3, A. Ball 2, Lenoir 9, Woodruff 2, M. Ball, Bowens, Kurtz, Austin 8.

3-POINT GOALS: Clarksville Academy 0-7; CSAS 5-21 (Stallion 4, Dodds).

(Email John Hunt at tnmoose2002@aol.com)