MONTGOMERY – Maybe it was residue left over from the girls’ loss to Autauga Academy just minutes earlier. Maybe it was a case of overlooking one’s opponent.

Whatever the reason for the Marion Military Institute Tigers’ slow start Thursday, coach Michelle Ivey is just happy to still be in the hunt for a state title.

The Tigers overcame a sluggish start and halftime deficit Thursday to beat Calvary Christian, 63-46, in the West Area IV Regionals at Faulkner University.

MMI will face the Central Christian Academy Warriors in the AISA Class 1A State Final Four next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Huntingdon College. The Warriors punched their ticket to the Final Four on Thursday with a 67-41 beating of Lakeside School in the West Area III Regionals at Huntingdon College.

The other boys’ Final Four matchup will pit Cornerstone Academy against Autauga Academy next Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Huntingdon College.

“That was ugly,” Ivey said of her team’s performance. “I don’t know why we started so slow. I don’t know if it was because of the way the girls’ game ended. I don’t know if that carried over. I’m just glad we won.”

Surprised may have been the word, especially after the Tigers (22-1) found themselves trailing 25-24 at halftime to a Calvary Christian team that entered the tournament with a 7-14 mark. But MMI outscored Calvary Christian 22-8 in the third period to pull ahead.

Trailing 27-24 early in the third, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. After a running lay-up by Kendrick Moore closed the gap to a point, senior forward David Conlan leaned over two defenders for a baseline finger roll to give the Tigers the lead for good, 28-27.

The Tigers gave themselves second- and third-chance scores with much improved rebounding in the second half. Clarence Allgood Jr. pounded the boards for a third-chance shot that finally found its way into the net for a 30-27 MMI advantage.

Moore capped the run with a mid-court steal and subsequent fast-break lay-up to make it 34-27. Moore added a jumper from the top of the key to send MMI’s lead into double digits at 39-29.

After making the front end of two free throws, Jovaris Smith came up with two big baskets, including one off a steal, to give the Tigers a 46-33 lead after the third period.

Ivey credited the Tigers’ improved offense in the second half for slower offensive rotations.

“I think maybe we were trying to push the issue,” she said. “I think we were trying to do too much.”

The Tigers were doing too much for Calvary Christian in the second half. MMI came away with several steals and transition baskets that Calvary couldn’t stop. Following an Allgood back-court steal, Wendel Crews sent a quick baseline pass to Conlan, who laid it in to make it 52-36. Crews took it himself on the Tigers’ next possession, driving through the Calvary defense for a quick lay-in to stretch the lead to 18.

Conlan’s baseline 7-foot jumper gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game, 59-38, before Calvary guard Art Day sank a three-point to knock the margin back to 18.