Amite and Doyle met in a Division III nonselect semifinal. See how it played out.

A big early lead does not guarantee a basketball victory.

But with guards Hai’ley Brumfield and Miracle Irving leading the way, second-seeded Amite led from start to finish to notch a 52-44 victory over Doyle in a Division III nonselect semifinals game that concluded Wednesday’s action at the LHSAA girls basketball tournament.

“This game we got started a little slow … the first quarter, ugh,” Doyle coach Samantha White said. “That sucked the wind out of us a little bit, and that happens sometimes. It’s unfortunate that it happened tonight.

“We kept trucking … we kept rolling. If we could have erased the first quarter it would have been a better basketball game. Give credit to Amite … they are a very good basketball program … very talented.”

Brumfield finished with a game-high 21 points along with five assists for the Warriors (29-5).

Amite advances to play top-seeded Rosepine (30-5), the reigning champion, in the Division III final set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the University Center in Hammond.

Irving scored 16 first-half points and finished with 20, including four 3-pointers. Kylee Savant led third-seeded Doyle (30-5) with 17 points, and Suri Stewart added 11.

Brumfield scored the first basket on a layup, and Irving added a jumper from the top of the key to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead less than a minute into the game. Post player Curtissiyah Jenkins also added four points as Amite built a 12-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

Doyle did not score until Stewart drove for a layup with 4:17 remaining. Amite took a 19-7 lead into a second quarter in which Doyle had the upper hand.

The Tigers outscored the Warriors 17-12 during the eight-minute period. Two 3-pointers by Shelby Taylor were a key part of the comeback.

Doyle got within three at 22-19 on a baseline jumper by Savant with 3:50 remaining in the half. Taylor’s second 3-pointer from the left side made it 25-22 at the 2:31 mark.

That’s when Irving became a difference-maker. The senior guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers over a 44-second span to send Amite into the locker room with a 31-24 advantage.

Doyle got within four points twice in the third quarter — once on a 3-pointer by Savant and again on another Savant jumper with 3:46 remaining. A layup by Brumfield in the final seconds pushed Amite’s lead back to nine points, at 43-34, going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter played out much like the third. Doyle got within five points twice, only to see Amite extend its lead again.