Keeping up with the Joneses is always tough business and it doesn’t get any easier on the basketball court.

Huffman’s sister act Tamiria and Jamiria Jones combined to match their opponent’s scoring output as the fifth-ranked Vikings allowed a late rally, but sealed the deal late on a Jones-to-Jones 3-pointer in a 63-56 victory over No. 4 Park Crossing in Wednesday’s Class 6A state semifinal at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Huffman coach Lin Slater said. “Park Crossing went on a run and I had to throw down my play sheet and just coach. Coach the way I know how to coach. I thank God we were able to pull out the win. It was a tough win.”

Huffman (25-8) allowed the opening basket on a layup from Park Crossing’s Maliyah Meeks, but powered ahead on a 9-0 run by way of three consecutive 3-pointers from Tamiria Jones, Jamiria Jones and Breonna Robbins.

The Thunderbirds pulled within 4 points midway through the first period, scoring on a tip-in from Saniya Jackson and a short runner from Tariah Magee, but Llana Brown ignited another 9-0 run off a 3-pointer as the Vikings surged to a 13-point advantage with a little more than a minute remaining. Jackson scored the final two buckets of the quarter to cut the lead to 22-13 entering the second period.

The Jones sisters pushed the lead back to 13 points early in the second quarter and Park Crossing hit an 8-0 run to trim the lead to 26-21 with 2:33 left in the half. Huffman closed out with a 6-2 spurt in the final two minutes to carry a 32-23 lead into the halftime break.

The Thunderbirds trimmed the lead below double-digits to open the second half, but Huffman answered each time and ultimately built its advantage back to 13 points on a 7-0 run that saw Tamiria Jones score on consecutive and-1 opportunities in the final two minutes of the third quarter.

Park Crossing (28-2) went on the offensive in the final period and held the Vikings without a field goal while closing the gap to a single point on an 11-0 run punctuated by consecutive layups from Jackson. Jamiria Jones snapped the Huffman drought with a 3-pointer, but Kamryn Kelly answered with her own 3-point play to keep the deficit at 1 point midway through the quarter.

Tamiria Jones hit a layup to ignite an 8-0 run and the Vikings shot ahead to a 63-54 lead while holding Park Crossing to a 3:38 scoring drought before Meeks scored the final bucket for the Thunderbirds.

“They were playing up high and my strength is attacking,” Tamiria Jones said. “When my team needed a play, I went and made one.”

Star of the game: Tamiria and Jamiria Jones. The senior sister guards for Huffman finished with 23 points each and combined for 13 rebounds and 6 steals. Tamiria added 8 assists to her total and ignited a game-clinching 8-0 run that was capped on a 3-point assist to her sister, who was 4-of-7 from long range.

“I know my sister is one of the best shooters in the state, probably the country if you ask me,” Tamiria Jones said. “I beat my man and her man came to help, so I just kicked it to her. I knew she’d knock it down.”

Stat sheet: Huffman – Robbins finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, and Llana Brown contributed 3 points, a rebound and a steal. Jada Kelser had 2 assists and 3 steals. Park Crossing – Jackson finished with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting and added 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Meeks posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Magee had 6 points and 3 rebounds. Kamryn Kelly had 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

By the numbers: The Vikings shot 40 percent overall and were 9-of-22 on 3-pointers, while Park Crossing was 53.3 percent from the field, but only 2-of-10 from 3-point range. The Thunderbirds enjoyed a plus-7 edge on the glass, but gave up 25 turnovers that resulted in 38 points for Huffman.

Did you know? Huffman returns to the state championship for a second straight season and faces top-ranked Hazel Green in a rematch of last year’s Class 6A title game.

Coachspeak: “It’s a blessing and it feels great. It’s amazing how hard we worked. Our motivation was being here last season. It’s an amazing opportunity for our school and our program. I know what the ultimate goal is and that’s to get the Blue Map.” – Huffman’s Lin Slater

“We had a couple of mishaps and miscommunications (down the stretch). They’re a good team and fought to the end. Maybe the big lights got to us. After being in that locker room, they’re going to make up the offseason work plan. They’re excited to be here and excited to work hard in the summer to get back.” – Park Crossing’s Freeah Smith

They said it: “We had to lock in, remember our assignments and how we’re supposed to rotate and be hungrier for it.” – Jamiria Jones

“I had to remember that it could be our last game. We had to be hungrier and it showed by being dogs on defense.” – Breonna Robbins

Next Up: Huffman advances to face six-time defending champion Hazel Green in the Class 6A title game at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at the BJCC’s Legacy Arena.