Williamstown’s Gracie Montgomery handles the ball against Philip Barbour during the Class AA state quarterfinals Wednesday in Charleston. (Photo by TaKaleb Turner)

CHARLESTON — Gracie Montgomery powered Williamstown in the first half and the Yellowjackets made just enough plays down the stretch to hold on for a 53-51 win over Philip Barbour in the Class AA state quarterfinals Wednesday at Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

The Yellowjackets (19-3) led by 13 early in the fourth before the Colts (16-8) rallied down the stretch. They got within four with 1:08 remaining, but steals by Arissa Burt and Maggie Frye helped Williamstown hold on. Olivia Wilmoth hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 12 seconds, but it was too little, too late.

“What’s the motto here — survive and advance,” said Williamstown head coach Danny Bunch. “I feel like we did that today. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but we gutted it out and we survived and advanced.”

Montgomery made five first-half 3-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 17 points. She was 5 for 8 from beyond the arc.

“I’ve been waiting on it,” Bunch said. “She’s battled illnesses and injuries that have really affected her. She picked a good night to come out of her shell a little bit. I’m very, very proud of her.”

Montgomery knocked down three 3-pointers for Williamstown’s first nine points of the game. It was 9-7 after one. The Yellowjackets created some separation in the second and went up 26-17 by halftime.

They led 41-32 after three and 45-32 early in the fourth. A 7-0 run by Philip Barbour, which included five straight points by Ella Knotts, got the Colts within six with 5:30 remaining.

A layup by Frye put the ‘Jackets ahead by seven, but Tatem Jeffries tallied four straight points to get PBHS within three, 48-45, with 1:54 to go.

Quinn Bunch, who finished with 16 points, went 9 for 12 from the free-throw line and had some clutch makes at the stripe to help WHS hold on. Burt added 11 points.

Jeffries led the Colts with 17 points to go along with eight rebounds. Knotts added 15 and nine boards and Wilmoth chipped in 13 points.

Williamstown advanced to the state semifinals at 9:30 a.m. Friday against Wheeling Central. The Yellowjackets beat the Maroon Knights 50-36 back on Jan. 24

“We got them earlier in the year, but it’s not earlier in the year anymore,” coach Bunch said. “It’s the state tournament. They’re a good basketball team. They played real well today. We’ve got to be ready for them.”