Miller Grove’s Raylon Richardson protects the basketball while looking for an opening during the Wolverines’ 66-41 Elite 8 win over South Paulding. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Alterique Gilbert’s double pump, over the head slam with 2:00 to play was the exclamation point on Miller Grove’s Elite 8 66-41 knockout of No. 8 South Paulding at Columbus State on Friday night.

The No. 1 ranked Wolverines led from the point Colin Young hit a three-pointer to open the game until the final horn.

Miller Grove’s Naquante Hardy hit a three-pointer and got an offensive rebound for a basket in the final 37 seconds of the first quarter to send the Wolverines into the second quarter up 19-8.

Young who opened the game with the three to get Miller Grove (28-2) rolling finished the half with a three and a layup on an assist from Joshua Jackmon to put the Wolverines up 37-20 at the break.

Raylon Richardson opened the second half with a pair of free throws and Gilbert drove to the bucket for a layup and the Wolverines were off on a 13-4 run to open the second half. The lead ballooned from 17 to 26 (50-24) on Hardy’s layup on a nice assist from Aaron Augustin with 3:15 left in the third quarter.

South Paulding (25-5) held Miller Grove scoreless the final three minutes of the third quarter, but could pull no closer than 50-29.

Kane Williams, who finished with a game-high 20 points, had a put back to open the final quarter, but the kept South Paulding at a long distance and led by 25 with 5:00 minutes to play following a Richardson dunk and two free throws by Gilbert.

Gilbert took advantage of a South Paulding turnover to release and go in for his big dunk that made it 64-38 and brought the crowd at Columbus State to its feet to applaud the UConn signee.

Gilbert would finish with a team high 18 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Wolverines. Naquante Hardy finished with 11 points and Colin Young 10 to join Gilbert in double figures.

Williams with his 20 was the only South Paulding player in double figures on the night.

Miller Grove advances to its ninth Final Four in 10 seasons and will face No. 3 McIntosh, a 65-59 winner over Riverwood at 8:15 on Saturday night.