The Isabella girls basketball team clinched a spot in the Sub-Regionals with a 58-44 victory over Ellwood Christian in the semifinal of the Area 6-1A tournament on Monday at Keith High School.

With the win, the Mustangs will now play for the area title against host Keith.

Home court advantage will be hanging in the balance, as the winner of the final matchup will gain a home contest in the next round while the loser will finish runner-up and have to travel to play a road game.

It was the third win this season for Isabella over Ellwood Christian, as the Mustangs started fast with a 10-0 run to open the game.

However, a couple of players wound up in foul trouble and Isabella led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.

The lead was extended yet again following a 16-2 scoring run to open second quarter. This time, the Mustangs were able to maintain the margin and led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

Hailey Underwood led the way for Isabella with 15 points, while Caley Booth and Synia Chattman joined the double-figure scoring club.

Keith has established its program as a perennial power within Class 1A over the past two seasons, and will pose a tough test for the Mustangs when the two teams take the court at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

“They’ll definitely have us outsized, but if we play the way we know we can, we’ll have a shot at the upset,” Isabella head coach Jared Day said. “We’re not going there to settle for second place.”

In other girls basketball action, Verbena lost 65-28 to Notasulga in a semifinal matchup in Area 7-1A.

The Jemison girls basketball were defeated 81-25 on the road against host Central Tuscaloosa.