For the first time in nearly half a century, the St. Aloysius Flashes will play in the basketball state tournament.

St. Al defeated Silliman Institute 57-40 on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the MAIS Class AAA South State boys tournament at Columbia Academy.

The top four teams in the South State tournament advance to next week’s Class AAA state tournament at Leake Academy. St. Al still has two games left this week — a semifinal Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Hillcrest Christian or Laurel Christian, and then either a championship or consolation game on Saturday — before then.

No matter what happens, however, the Flashes (16-9) will play in the state tournament for the first time since 1970. Their first-round South State win over Columbia Academy was the program’s first since then, as well.

St. Al had a depth advantage over Silliman that showed up early. Silliman only has eight players on the roster, and seven St. Al players scored in the second quarter alone as the Flashes built a 32-19 halftime lead.

Braxton Chewning and Alvin Brown then took over for the Flashes in the second half. The duo combined to score 17 of the team’s 25 points in the last two quarters, and St. Al carried a 21-point lead into the fourth period.

Brown scored nine points in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 15. Chewning had eight points in the second half and finished with 11.

Trinye Brown and Thomas Trichell added eight points apiece for St. Al. Hunter Peterson and Brady Carpenter led Silliman with 14 points each.