DELTONA – Fifty is the magic number for Calvary Christian.

“Our focus was on making sure we were playing D and that they were taking competitive jump shots,” said Lions head coach Ray Gaines. “If we keep them under 50, we’ll get the win.”

It is easier said than done; The Lions have held opponents that threshold or less 11 times in 23 games. However, if they did, as they did in the boys’ basketball final in District 9-2A against the Halifax Academy on Friday, then the predicted results have followed.

Karl Knighten Jr. led all scorers with 23 points, and Israel Griffin added 11 when Calvary passed Knights 60-37 with the highest seeds. With the victory, the Lions (11-12) guaranteed a regional home game against Mount Dora Christian on Thursday at 7pm.

Gaines returned to the Lions after a year-long hiatus. Two seasons ago, Calvary won 21 games, including their first post-season triumph since 2010.

Reconnecting with his seniors and working with a talented group of lower class members, especially Second Guard Knighten, proved too tempting to pass up.

“I wanted to make sure these guys left safely,” said Gaines. “I’m excited to have come back.”

Knighten finished the game on 14 points in the fourth quarter and slipped past the defenders to play some classic three-point games.

Calvary and Halifax are two of only three programs in the Volusia-Flagler area to qualify for the playoffs and join Mainland.

“We were hungry. Everyone was talking about our name,” said Knighten. “It feels really good because we worked hard for it. A lot of teams just thought because we are a 2A school that we are not good. We have worked really hard this summer and up to this point.”

Despite the defeat, Halifax (13-7) returns to the playoffs after a three-year absence. D’Vonte Lindsey and AJ Maddox together scored 19 points for the Knights.

“We picked the wrong game and we probably got our worst shooting of the season. We couldn’t buy a basket, 3 or lay-up,” said Halifax head coach Shamus Dougherty. “It wasn’t necessarily a bad execution on our part, but missed opportunities.”

Forest 68, Mainland 62 (2OT)

Brenen Lorient had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Elijah Russell added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Ocala Forest beat Mainland in double overtime to win the District Boys’ first basketball championship in nine years.

Mainland (8-11) secured their fourth playoff trip in a row in Wednesday’s semi-finals with a 60:30 win over rivals New Smyrna Beach. The Bucs will attempt to end Neptune Beach Fletcher’s six-game winning streak in a quarter-finals from Region 1-6A on Thursday at 7pm.