The sixth-seeded Baldwin boys basketball team led for 31 minutes and 26 seconds of its Class 4A state semifinal matchup on Friday evening at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, taking down No. 2 seed and previously unbeaten Atchison (26-1) by a score of 65-45.

Friday’s win is a significant milestone for the Bulldogs (21-6), as they punched a ticket to their first state championship game in school history in the team’s fifth semifinal appearance.

Senior Leo Schoenberger led the way for Baldwin with 29 points, while senior Cooper Carr filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

The Bulldogs raced out to a quick start on both ends of the floor, leading 8-0 thanks to back-to-back 3s by Schoennberger and a stout defensive effort that forced the Phoenix into missing its first five shots.

Atchison made two 3-pointers out of the timeout, but Schoenberger continued his hot start by adding four more points as Baldwin led 12-6 at the end of the first.

Two more 3-pointers to start the third quarter by the Phoenix tied the game at 12 before a seven-point spark allowed the Bulldogs to retake a 19-12 advantage. Five points by Atchison cut the Baldwin lead back to two, forcing a timeout.

Both teams traded runs back and forth, with Baldwin scoring five straight and Atchison responding with four before Schoenberger’s third 3-pointer of the first half sent both teams to the locker room with Baldwin ahead 27-21.

Out of the break, the Phoenix started the third quarter by scoring seven of the first nine points to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to one. Senior Devyn Wadel responded with his second 3-pointer of the game and soon made his third to put the Bulldogs up 39-30.

The two teams traded scores during the final three minutes of the third quarter, in which Baldwin was last on the board after a bucket by Schoenberger to lead 51-41 heading into the final eight minutes.

Schoenberger made his fifth 3-pointer of the game 87 seconds into the fourth quarter as the Bulldog defense shut down the Phoenix, allowing just one point off a free throw through the first five minutes of the fourth period.

Baldwin outscored Atchison 14-4 in the fourth quarter to improve to 1-4 in the state semifinals all-time.

The Bulldogs will take on another undefeated team in top-seeded Rock Creek (27-0) in the championship game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Hutchinson. The Mustangs defeated Hugoton 73-53 earlier on Friday to punch their ticket to Saturday’s finale.