On Thursday, March 19, 2026, defending Class AAAA state champion Spring Mills advanced to the semifinals with a 64-55 win over University at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

Spring Mills set the tone early, jumping out to a double-digit lead behind Akwasi Opoku-Achampong, who knocked down an early three-pointer to spark a fast start. The Cardinals used an 8-0 run in the first quarter to build a 21-13 advantage.

University responded behind Luke Byers, who scored 17 points, helping the Hawks stay within striking distance. However, Spring Mills maintained control throughout the first half, taking a 35-20 lead into the break.

The Cardinals continued to extend their lead in the third quarter, fueled by balanced scoring from Chase Jones, who led the team with 16 points, along with contributions from Tyler Jones and Kenez Stovall.

University made a push behind Eli Karpinski, who led all scorers with 21 points, and K.K. Lewis, who added 12 points and 7 rebounds, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.

Spring Mills closed out the game in the fourth quarter to secure the victory and a return trip to semifinal Friday, where they will face the winner of Morgantown vs Riverside.