Meridian High School’s Jay Malone attempts to steal the ball from Callaway’s Tanarrio Ransburgh Wednesday night during the MHSAA Class 6A semifinals at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

JACKSON — Meridian and Callaway’s two regular season games were decided by just seven points and resulted in two Wildcat victories.

Thankfully for first-year Meridian coach Ron Norman, Meridian’s fourth-quarter performance Wednesday afforded him a little more breathing room down the stretch.

Meridian defeated Callaway 67-50 Wednesday night at the Mississippi Coliseum to advance to the 6A finals, where the Wildcats draw Murrah at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats outscored the Chargers 23-7 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Callaway scored its first of two baskets in the quarter nearly five minutes into the final period. 

Meridian (29-2) had double-digit scoring efforts from four players. Miles Miller scored a game-high 18 points, LeDarrius Brewer scored 16, David McCoy tallied 13 and Jay Malone added 11.

McCoy made a 3-pointer with 7:43 left in the third quarter to put the Wildcats ahead 32-31 and a basket by Malone gave Meridian a 34-31 lead.

Callaway (23-11) went on a 9-0 run to regain the advantage at 40-34 but Meridian surged late and Tevarrious Adams gave his team a 44-43 lead with a basket to end the quarter. The Wildcats didn’t surrender their lead for the rest of the night.

Meridian shot 12 of 32 (37.5 percent) in the first half and made just 3 of 15 (20 percent) 3-pointers to trail Callaway 31-29 at halftime.

Callaway, meanwhile, shot 48.1 percent (13 of 27) in the opening half and also struggled from afar as it went 1 of 5 (20 percent) from 3-point range.

Callaway also outrebounded Meridian 23-15 in the first half and 47-40 in the contest.

Meridian ended the night 21 of 56 (37.5 percent) from field goal range and 7 of 23 (30.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Kassim Nicholson paced Callaway with 14 points and teammates John Knight III and James Holmes contributed 13 apiece.