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By Nolan Imsande

ALBANY — There was no mistaking the look in Trey Young’s eyes.

With his team up by two, the Deerfield-Windsor guard had just been sent to the floor on a hard foul, and he got up looking to make something happen.

Young did just that, hitting a trey and finishing a 3-point play before time expired in the third quarter to give his team an eight-point lead against Westfield in the second-round of the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state tournament on Saturday.

The points keyed a run for the Knights that helped them secure a 79-64 victory over the Hornets and a spot in the final four next week at Mercer University’s Hawkins Arena.

“Every now and then, there is a moment in a game that gives you a little extra push,” Young said. “That was it. It just helped me power through the game and finish strong.”

Young opened the game hitting his first four shots while sharpshooter Chandler Matthews hit his first two threes. The guards helped Deerfield build a 20-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The offense continued to stay hot even building a 30-19 lead midway through the second quarter.

“We came out and played well on both ends,” Deerfield coach Gordy Gruhl said. “The seniors really stepped up like you would expect. The experience that we have had in big games paid off.”

A basket by Ethan Shellhaas with 33 seconds left in the first half gave Deerfield a 38-28 lead at halftime.

But Westfield was not ready to go down that easily.

The Hornets went on an 8-2 run to open the second half, forcing Gruhl to call a timeout. After Westfield rallied to tie the game at 45, Deerfield big man Emmanuel Baez hit a three to end a drought that lasted nearly three minutes.

The Knights took a 55-49 lead into the final quarter.

Tyler Lowe opened the fourth quarter with four straight points to start a 19-8 run that helped Deerfield-Windsor put the game away.

Young finished with a game high 28 points while Matthews added 17. Lowe and Shellhaas contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Westfield was led by Giles Amos who scored 19. The Hornets received 11 points apiece from Paul Fitzgerald and Markese Watkins.

The Knights will face John Milledge in the semifinals Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

“It is just one last ride,” Young said of the opportunity. “We are building up the memories and I love playing with these guys. We are going to try and get it done next week.”