Oakwood Academy didn’t get a chance to play its Northeast Regional semifinal game in 2022.

A year later, the Mustangs will play for a state championship.

Oakwood took the lead for good with an 11-0 third-quarter run Monday afternoon and held off Autaugaville for a 52-44 victory in the Class 1A semifinals at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

“This experience has been really indescribable,” Mustangs coach Melvin Allen said. “I had chills and was almost in tears that this day became a reality for our students and our student body. Sports has a special place in our school morale. Our entire school closed today for the first time in history. The whole run has been inspirational and to keep it going is even more special.”

RELATED: Live updates from Monday’s action

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Oakwood forfeited its regional game a year ago due to religious reasons. The Mustangs are a Seventh Day Adventist school, and their religion celebrates the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The regional semifinal game was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control approved a new ruling in September allowing schools like Oakwood to request a religious accommodation during championship play when certain conditions are met. The Mustangs didn’t need an accommodation this year because their games haven’t been on Friday night or Saturday.

The championship isn’t either.

They will play Covenant Christian for the state title at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

“Most of you guys know our journey from last year to here,” Allen said in Monday’s postgame press conference. “We are so thankful for all the support from the media, the coaches, the fans and the state association.

“This has been some journey. These young men have worked hard, and they used last year’s situation as motivation to get back. We are glad to be playing and have an opportunity to bring a state championship back to our little school.”

Monday’s game was tied at 22-22 at the half, but the Mustangs pulled ahead with a 14-7 run to end the third quarter. Eleazar Williams’ tip-in gave Oakwood a 38-31 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The Mustangs pushed the lead to 41-31 in the opening minutes of the fourth before a conventional three-point play by Kenneth Brown and a 3-pointer by Jaden Nixon cut the margin to 41-37 with 2:32 remaining. Nashaun Palmer’s basket cut the margin to 44-41, but the Eagles could get no closer.

Oakwood finished the game on an 8-3 run to clinch their first state title game appearance.

“We started a little sluggish,” Autaugaville coach Darren Golson said. “We didn’t make any shots, got down and it was hard to come back. Our defense wasn’t quite where it needed to be in the first half. It was better in the second, but we still couldn’t make any shots.”

The Eagles were just 17-of-60 from the field (28 percent) and 6-of-36 from the 3-point line (16.7 percent). Their comeback attempt was also hurt by the fact that Nixon, their 6-foot-4 point guard, played most of the game in foul trouble and eventually fouled out with 2:09 left.

“That changes everything,” Golson said. “He’s our engine. Guys look up to him. He plays real hard, plays great defense, is great on offense. It’s difficult to drive to the basket when you are in foul trouble as well.”

Star of the game: Johnathan Walden had 14 points and eight rebounds for Oakwood.

Stat game: Oakwood – David Still finished with 12 points. Camden Edmonds had 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Autaugaville – Nixon finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two assists. He was the only Eagle in double figures.

By the numbers: Oakwood shot 38.6 percent from the field (17-of-44) and was 14-of-24 from the free throw line. The Mustangs held a 24-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-8 edge in second-chance points. Autaugaville won the rebounding battle 44-36.

They said it:

“They are a really good team. Hats off to them. They have really good athletes. We felt like if we could keep them out of the paint and contest their perimeter shooting that we had a chance. We stuck to our game plan. We were able to get them in some foul trouble, get into the bonus ourselves and hit some free throws.” – Allen.

“It feels good. The last game (regional final), we all had tears of joy. We had a rough game today, especially on the board. I feel like if we want to win a state title, we have to be better on the defensive side and on the boards.” – Walden.

Next up: Oakwood Academy will play defending champ Covenant Christian at 5:45 p.m. Thursday for the state title. Covenant beat Florala in the day’s first semifinal game.