(Todd Rose/Daily Press photo) North Central’s Wyatt Riley (20) shoots a layup as Carney-Nadeau’s Mike Flanagan (22) defends and Beau Koffman watches Thursday night during an MHSAA Division 4 district semifinal game in Powers.

POWERS — The Carney Nadeau Wolves vs. the North Central Jets. It was a game over a year in the making and was it ever worth the wait as the Wolves (10-8) snuck by the Jets (6-6) 51-50 in an MHSAA Division 4 district semifinal Thursday night in Powers.

Last year, the rivals were set to battle in the district championship game. But the day before that game was to be played, it was canceled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the first time the teams met on the court since that cancellation.

“It’s always been that county rivalry,” said Wolves coach Paul Polfus. “They’ve had great teams, we’ve had some real good teams. It was just a great matchup tonight because the teams were pretty even. It was just who was going to make the last basket, I guess.”

That last basket came from Carney’s Tim Hodson — who totaled 13 points — with around 30 seconds remaining.

The shot gave the Wolves the one-point edge, and that was all they needed as they stopped North Central from making anything happen in the remaining seconds with Brayden Kakuk snagging a vital rebound to seal the Wolves’ win.

Just prior to that, Beau Koffman and Peyton Imhoff each scored for the Wolves. Koffman with a corner three and Imhoff with a tip-in off a rebound.

Koffman — who hit 1,000 career points Tuesday night against Stephenson — led the Wolves with 16 points.

“We knew it was going to be a close one,” said Koffman. “Carney and North Central, we’ve been on a collision course since the beginning of the season to match up in this game. We got lucky and pulled through.”

Between the 1,000 point achievement Tuesday, being named the Skyline Central Conference Player of the Year, and now the semifinal win, it has been a momentous week for Koffman.

“I’m soaring right now! I’m feeling good,” he said. “We’re about to go compete for another trophy and I am so excited. I couldn’t be happier.

“(1,000 points) is a goal I’ve been chasing since I was in kindergarten when I watched Wade Schetter hit it. I finally achieved it, and it feels so good. I got some weight off my shoulders with that one.”

After what has been a busy year with three games per week — among the other challenges presented by COVID — coach Polfus was happy his team has made it this far and is on the way to the district title game.

“I tell you what,” he said. “With all the stuff that went on this year, for this happening to these kids is a great thing. It really is.”

Jets coach Mike Malone and his team knew the game was going to be a fight.

“It’s always a battle,” Malone said. “It’s just unfortunate that one of the teams has to come out on top, and the other gets to lose.”

Ian Gorzinski was tasked with the challenge of defending Koffman and excelled, said Malone.

“Ian Gorzinski did a heck of a job defending Beau Koffman tonight,” he said. “His defense was lights out”

Jesse Sampson had 18 points for the Jets, while Luke Gorzinski had 15.

Carney-Nadeau will host Forest Park in the Division 4 district 99 championship game at 6 p.m. Central time Saturday. In the regular season, the two teams split their games. The first, Carney won 39-36. The second, the Trojans won 46-44 with second left off of two Gavin Johnson free throws.

Carney-Nadeau 7 12 18 14 — 51

North Central 8 8 23 11 — 50

Carney-Nadeau — Koffman 16, Hodson 13, Kakuk 8, Flanagan 6, Imhoff 6, LaFord 2; F: 14; FT: 3-3; Fouled out: Flanagan; 3-point field goals: Koffman 3, Flanagan 2, Kakuk 2, Hodson.

North Central — Sampson 18, Luke Gorzinski 15, Ian Gorzinski 5, Plunger 5, Anderson 4, Carter Eichmeier 3; F: 9; FT: 10-17; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Luke Gorzinski 2, Ian Gorzinski, Sampson.