The Powder Valley girls basketball team held off pesky rival Pine Eagle 47-35 in a quarterfinal game at the district tournament Thursday night, Feb. 20, in the Baker High School gym.

The Badgers, who entered the district tournament having won eight of their last nine games, led just 19-17 at halftime over a team they beat twice in the regular season, by 26 and eight points.

The Spartans scored first in the second half to tie it, and they were within 30-25 in the third quarter.

But the Badgers scored 10 of the next 12 points in a run that continued into the fourth quarter, to take control.

Powder Valley advanced to the semifinals, where the Badgers will play Imbler on Friday at 2 p.m. with a berth in the Class 1A state playoffs at stake. The teams played once in the regular season, on Dec. 27, with Imbler winning 33-32.

Both Powder Valley and Pine Eagle can still qualify for the playoffs as at-large teams, of which there are eight. Those are based on rankings after all district tournaments are finished Saturday evening. Powder came into the district tournament ranked 14th, and Pine Eagle 23rd, so both should have a good chance of qualifying for the state playoffs.