MONTGOMERY – The Central Christian Academy Warriors have won all season with the three-pointer. They just hoped for the emergence of one more long-range shooter in time for the postseason.

Bud Smith answered the call.

Smith drained five of CCA’s 11 three-pointers on Thursday as the Warriors routed Lakeside School, 67-41 in the AISA Class 1A, West Area III Regionals at Huntingdon College.

The Warriors advance to the AISA Class 1A Final Four next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Huntingdon College. They will face the Marion Military Institute Tigers, who beat Calvary Christian on Thursday in the Class 1A, West IV Regionals at Faulkner University.

The other boys’ Final Four contest will pit Cornerstone Academy against Autauga Academy. The winners will battle Friday night for the AISA Class 1A state title.

“We’ve been waiting on number 40,” CCA coach Carl Rawls said of Baker. “He’s a pure shooter. We knew he would come around.”

Few, however, could have ever expected Baker to explode like he did on Lakeside School. Baker had three baskets from beyond the arc in the second half, but he was by means the only one hitting the long shot. After going 2-for-7 from beyond the three-point line in the first half, the Warriors were 9-of-10 from the arc in the second half.

Baker and senior forward Tee Woods keyed a 20-3 CCA run that put the Warriors up 47-15 late in the third period. Woods hit the second of five 3-pointers in the third period by the Warriors. His 23-footer from the right wing put the Warriors ahead 35-14.

Baker knocked down his lone three-pointer of the third period from the same spot to increase the margin to 40-14. Moments later, Woods lobbed a pass to Bud Smith in the corner for another trey to make it 43-14.

The sudden offensive outburst came suddenly for a CCA team that had combined to shoot just 28 percent from the field its past three games. The Warriors also improved from the free-throw line, hitting 78 percent of their charity shots, compared to the team’s 62 percent for the season.

According to Rawls, the Warriors received some expert instruction this week. Rawls said Pat Knight, the Selma YMCA 17-and-under coach for the past 20 years, dropped by practice on Wednesday to work with the Warriors on their free-throw shooting.

“Pat Knight’s a smart guy,” Rawls said. “He came by and showed the kids how to shoot their free throws. It looks like it helped.”

CCA’s offense was sparked by the Warriors’ stingy defensive play in the third period. Central Christian’s zone defense cut down Lakeside’s inside game and helped create turnovers. In fact, Lakeside went the first 6:42 of the third period without a bucket.

“I told them to keep playing defense,” Rawls said. “I told them that the defense would make their offense come around.”

The game also provided a pick-me-up for Woods. After struggling his past few games, Woods broke free to register the school’s first-ever quadruple-double. Woods finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals.

“Tee was getting down on himself,” Rawls said. “This was the kind of game he needed to get going again.”