CHICAGO (Interstat) — A spot in the NJCAA Region 4 Division I championship game will be on the line Thursday when the No. 1-seeded Olive-Harvey Panthers host the Triton Trojans in a men’s junior college basketball semifinal.

The Panthers (19-3), one of the region’s dominant teams all season, enter as heavy favorites. They have won 10 of their last 11 games, including a 91-60 rout of Richard J. Daley in their regular-season finale on Tuesday. Sophomore guard Terrence Shannon has been their engine, averaging 22.2 points over his last six contests. He scored 22 points with five assists in the most recent win.

Olive-Harvey has also had Triton’s number this season, winning both regular-season matchups: 96-86 on Dec. 16 and 91-84 on Feb. 10.

The Triton Trojans (15-12), however, are riding a wave of momentum, having won four straight games to reach the semifinals. Their latest was a dramatic 91-88 overtime victory at Sauk Valley on Tuesday, fueled by a monumental performance from sophomore forward Terez Holmes. He played just one minute but scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in that limited action, showcasing his explosive capability.

Holmes has been a triple-double threat throughout the streak, posting 15 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Wilbur Wright on Feb. 26. He also recorded 16 points and 17 rebounds in the Feb. 10 loss to Olive-Harvey, indicating he poses a significant challenge for the Panthers’ interior defense.

The Trojans will need Holmes and backcourt scorer Ethan Johnson, who had 23 points against Sauk Valley, to be at their best to overcome a Panthers squad that has lost only once since Jan. 29. The winner advances to the Region 4 title game on Saturday, March 7, with a berth in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament at stake.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago.