Crestview's Isaac Unkefer is guarded by United's Matthew Hoopes in the Heartland Hoopin' into the New Year Tournament on Monday. (Morning Journal/Ron Firth)

COLUMBIANA — The Heartland Christian boys basketball team always plays its best at its Hoopin’ into the New Year Tournament.

Junior Collin Kalaher scored his 1,000th career points to guide the Lions to the championship game for the fifth straight year by downing Pittsburgh Christian Academy, 77-23, in a semifinal Monday.

Kalaher scored 15 points in very limited action due to the score to raise his career total to 1,003.

He reached the 1,000-point mark with a steal and layup with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter to give the Lions a 43-5 lead.

It highlighted the Lions’ 41-0 run in which they shut out the Riverhawks for over 12 minutes to build a commanding 54-5 advantage.

Brody Conaway added 10 points, while Isaiah Matthews added nine points. Corban Seutia and Reagan Kalaher, Collin’s younger brother, had seven points apiece.

Heartland improves to 8-0 — averaging 74.8 points a game this season — and will host Crestview in the championship game at 7 p.m. today. United will take on Pittsburgh Christian Academy in the 5:30 p.m. consolation game.

Heartland has won three of the first four tournament titles — the lone exception being 2022 when Columbiana beat Heartland in the championship game.

In the first semifinal, Crestview outscored United in every quarter for a 55-38 win.

The Rebels defense held United to 11 of 32 shooting (34%) in the first half and forced 14 turnovers to take a 32-26 lead at the break.

Crestview built a 51-37 lead with 3:47 left in the game and held United to one point the rest of the way.

Tickets for today’s games are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Heartland Christian 77, Pittsburgh Christian 23

PC: 5- 4-11-3–23

HC: 38-21- 9-9–77

HEARTLAND SCORING: Isaiah Matthews 4-0-9, Corban Seutia 3-1-7, Collin Kalaher 7-0-15, Jack Morgan 2-1-6, Brody Conaway 5-0-10, Reagan Kalaher 3-0-7, Easton Jones 2-0-4, Jacob Reed 2-0-4, Ryan Coy 1-0-2, Hudson Miller 1-0-2, Alex Hamilton 0-0-0, Josh Pennington 1-0-2, Wuintin Hunter 1-0-2, Evan Stambaugh 2-0-4, Jacob Vande Kappelle 1-0-3. TEAM TOTALS: 35, 2-5: 77.

Three-point goals: Heartland 5 (Matthews, C. Kalaher, Morgan, R. Kalaher, Dande Kappelle).

Crestview 55, United 38

U: 12-14- 6- 6–38

C: 16-16-13-10–55

Bridgeport 69, Wellsville 53

TORONTO — Bridgeport came away with a 69-53 win over Wellsville on Sunday at the Todd Kalivoda Holiday Classic.

Austin Adkins had 24 points for the Tigers, 3-6.

Evan Clark led Bridgeport (7-0) with 23.

Wellsville hosts Oak Glen on Saturday.