The Lafayette boys’ basketball team advanced to the Class 4 District 16 tournament championship with a 54-40 victory over Chillicothe Thursday night.

The Fighting Irish improve to 21-4 and they’ll play Savannah in the title game Friday night after the Savages beat Smithville 56-50 in the second semifinal at Lafayette High School.

Lafayette fell behind early to Chillicothe 12-5, but they used a 19-2 run and eventually led 24-17 at halftime.

After the Hornets pulled to within four points early in the third quarter, the Irish went on an 18-4 run and their lead grew to as many as 20 points, 46-26, before winning by 14.

Billy Cook, Chester Goudeau and Xavier Kurth led Lafayette as they each scored 12 points.

In the second semifinal, Savannah trailed 10-8 early in the second quarter, but used a 7-0 run and never gave the lead back.

Bert Ernst led the way for the Savages with 18 points and Jesse Dickens scored 13.

Savannah improves to 16-10 this season.

The two championship games on Friday from the Class 4 District 16 tournament will be live on 680 KFEQ.  The girls title game will tip at 5:30 p.m. as Benton will meet Lafayette.  And then Lafayette battles Savannah in the boys championship at 8:00 p.m.

Elshwere Thursday night, the Central girls had their season come to an end as they fell to North Kansas City, 67-57, in the Class 5 District 15 semifinals.

The Indians finished with a 15-11 record.