MERKEL — After rallying from 21 points down in their Region II-1A quarterfinal win over Electra on Saturday, a seven-point third-quarter deficit was nothing for the Westbrook boys in Tuesday’s region semifinal matchup with Rankin.

Following a run of hot outside shooting by the 16th-ranked Red Devils over the middle two quarters, the No. 14 Wildcats calmly pulled within four points by the start of the fourth quarter and outlasted RHS in a tightly contested final period for a thrilling 70-63 victory at Merkel’s Badger Gym.

Westbrook, in the regional tournament for the first time since 2001, will now advance to the II-1A championship, where they’ll take on No. 15 Eula at a time, date and location to be determined with a spot in the Class 1A state tournament on the line.