The fourth-seeded Merkel Badgers put a scare into Cisco for a half Monday, but the District 6-3A champion Loboes regrouped at the break to secure a 53-42 win in a Region I-3A bi-district playoff at McMurry University’s Kimbrell Arena.

Trailing 31-24 at halftime, Cisco used an 18-2 run through the third quarter to take control and held off a Badger rally in the fourth to earn an area-round date with No. 11 Brock.