Trinity was aiming for one more shot at Southern League rival Lake Mead in the Class 1A boys state tournament.

The Thunder will get that opportunity after storming past Smith Valley 86-50 in the semifinal Friday at Del Sol.

Trinity (20-9) will attempt to upend the Southern League regular-season and tournament champion Eagles (25-5) in the state final at 1:40 p.m. today at the Orleans Arena. It will be the teams' fourth meeting this season, with Lake Mead holding a 2-1 edge.

Trinity senior Jonathan Atkins, who compiled 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists, was eagerly awaiting a chance to take down Lake Mead for the state title.

"That's our rival," he said. "Last time we played, they ran over us. But I think if we have a defensive effort like this against them, we will give them a run for their money."

The Thunder looked much like a team to be reckoned with Friday, manhandling Smith Valley from the start.

The Bulldogs couldn't handle Trinity's full-court defense, leading to 21 turnovers, and the Bulldogs shot only 36 percent from the field.

Atkins said grueling practices had the Thunder well prepared.

"We had three days of a new type of practice with a lot more intensity," he said. "We really focused on defense more than anything, and it was a lot more hard work. I think that made the difference for us."

Defense helped the Thunder put the game away in the third quarter. Trinity held the Bulldogs scoreless for five minutes in a 12-0 run sparked by three breakaway baskets spawned by steals, including a rim-rattling dunk by Atkins.

The spurt put the Thunder in control 55-30 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.

Travis Kersenbrock supplied 23 points and eight rebounds for Trinity, and Raphael Roberts had 10 points.

David Bozsik scored 23 points and Diego Verdugo 10 for Smith Valley.

• Lake Mead 84, Pyramid Lake 38 -- Landon Littlefield made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to carry the Eagles past the Lakers in the other semifinal.

Jared Dean contributed 17 points and Demetrius Turner 12 for Lake Mead, which took a 17-2 lead and breezed.

The Eagles' defense stifled Pyramid Lake, forcing 24 turnovers and holding the Lakers to 27 percent shooting.

"We always play great defense. That's something that is there every night," Lake Mead coach Jeff Newton said. "Shooting? Some nights it's there and some nights it's not. Tonight it was. That was the difference early in the game."

The Eagles made 10 of 18 3-pointers, one shy of the 1A state tournament record for made 3-pointers.

As for facing Trinity for the state championship, Newton said Lake Mead's 67-53 victory over the Thunder in the Southern League tournament final last week will be a non-factor.

"I think last week is yesterday's news," he said. "We are playing for a state championship. (Today) the winner gets the pinnacle of the season. That is all that matters."