The Woodland High boys basketball team stands a good chance to add to its Gold Ball collection if it can repeat its Tuesday night performance when the Wildcats played with steadiness as they pulled away from Coosa for a 70-52 victory in the Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival semifinals.

"I thought we came out strong," said Woodland coach Mike Tobin, whose team began to stretch its lead in the third quarter. "I thought we did a good job."

The Wildcats, who led by seven points at the half, outscored the Eagles 15-2 in the first few minutes of the second half -- including nine points from Chandler Royal, who added a three-point play to the mix -- to go up 46-26.

To Coosa's credit it did not quit, but the Eagles found themselves down 52-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

"They sure didn't quit," Tobin said of Coosa's play in the second half. "No. 41 [Zac Hale] started to heat up."

Hale -- who scored six points in the third quarter including a baseline jam plus a free throw -- finished with 16 points, but Coosa got no closer than a 12-point deficit.

Woodland took the air out of the ball a bit with a comfortable lead and forced the Eagles to extend their defense.

When they did, the Wildcats attacked the basket, including a couple of acrobatic baseline layups from Daryel Morris and a three-point play from Greg Murphy.

The lone complaint from Tobin regarded Woodland's ballhandling in the fourth quarter as it committed a few turnovers down the stretch.

"We gotta do a better job taking care of the ball. We got a little careless with the ball at the end," the Wildcats coach said.

Royal, who exploded for 15 second-half points, led Woodland in scoring with 23, while Xavier Niblet (9), Murphy (8), R.J. Williams (8), Corey Tobin (7), Morris (6), Adam Tobin (5) and Isaiah Niblet (2) contributed as well.

Royal also led his team in rebounds with nine -- six on the offensive glass -- and Xavier Niblet had a team-high three blocks.

Hale and Tyler Bradley each scored 16 points for Coosa.

The Wildcats held a slim lead -- 14-13 -- after a first-quarter buzzer-beater from the Eagles' Bryan Marshall.

In the second quarter, though, Woodland begin to push the lead further out and led 31-24 at halftime.

Mike Tobin talked about needing a full effort from his team after what he called a slow start against Pepperell in the quarterfinals. He said he got that complete effort Tuesday night.

"I thought we did a little better job tonight and hopefully we can do our best job tomorrow night," he said.

The Wildcats, who won this tournament in 2008 but lost to Rome and finished second last year, face the winner of the of Tuesday night's other semifinal game, Calhoun-Rome, in tonight's championship.

The Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival championship tips off at 7 p.m. at Berry College.