DeSoto found itself in the same position at last year's DISD/Coca-Cola Invitational – as favorites against Skyline in the semifinals.

This year, however, didn't end in disappointment.

DeSoto (21-0), ranked No. 1 in the TABC state poll, avenged last year's two-point semifinal loss, outscoring Skyline 11-3 in the last five minutes en route to a 60-45 win.

Blog: High schools

 Friday's tournament action

Boys basketball tournaments

DISD: Skyline reaches final

Whataburger: Dunbar falls short

Wildcat Classic: Arl. Bowie wins

Sunset stranded, forfeits

Fri. results | Sat. schedule

Girls basketball tournaments

DISD: DeSoto in final

Sandra Meadows: Defense propels Frisco

Mansfield Rotary: Timberview, Liberty Chr. advance

Fri. results | Sat. schedule

"It was just a matter of us trying to take their legs out of the game to where their shots came up short," DeSoto coach Larry Goad said. "And that's what we did in the second half, especially toward the end of the game."

DeSoto will face Lancaster in the final at 6 p.m. today at Davis Field House, aiming to become the first team besides Lincoln to take home the DISD tournament title since 2003.

Sydney Carter and Vanessa Obafemi each scored 19 points, and Keandra Goodson added 10 points and 9 rebounds for DeSoto, which took advantage of its depth and size to pull away from Skyline (15-8) after leading by as little as four in the third quarter.

"When we went into halftime, we just talked about sharing the ball with the team," Carter said. "If you're not shooting well or playing well, you can always help your team out on defense and you can always get the ball to your teammates."

Skyline made one field goal and had only two offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.

"I think they just wore us down ... their size definitely did," Skyline coach Cassandra McCurdy said.

But DeSoto didn't just force the ball into the post, where it has three players in its rotation 5-10 or taller.

After half, Goad deliberately called for his team to run through a number of offensive sets on each possession, all the while tiring Skyline's defenders.

"We wanted them to play half-court defense and chase us through our offense," Goad said. "We executed our offense; we didn't panic, we didn't rush. Even though it was a close game, it was just a matter of making them set up their defense to play against us."

Skyline, which made 12 threes in its quarterfinal win over Irving MacArthur, went 2-of-13 from the 3-point line.

"It's going to take a great night with everybody on the floor playing ball [to beat DeSoto]," McCurdy said. "They're awfully good."

Lancaster preaching defense first: Lancaster advanced to the final, forcing 25 turnovers in a convincing 55-39 win over South Oak Cliff.

After its lead had been cut to five in the fourth quarter, Lancaster held SOC scoreless over the last 5:28.

Point guard Jericka Jenkins continued her stellar play with 17 points, eight rebounds and six steals, and Alexandria Dews added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

When asked about her team's success without much size – only one of Lancaster's players is taller than 5-9 – Lancaster coach Beverly Lockett pointed to a comment that Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson made about his team last week.

"'Small but athletic,'" Lockett said. "That's us."

Briefly: Freshman Bianca Fisher made a free throw with six seconds left to lift Lancaster past West Mesquite, 53-52, in the quarterfinals. ... Odyssey Sims scored 28 in Irving MacArthur's 68-50 loss to Skyline. ... Wylie's Sara Stanley scored 16 points in a 47-43 win over Richardson, which was led by Latisha Hearn, who had 21 points.

Tom Washburn and Rick Atkinson contributed to this article.