The Bradwell Institute Lady Tigers found a winning formula to overcome Tri-Cities’ 3-point barrage.

The Lady Tigers went 17-of-24 from the free throw line, including sinking 6 of 8 in the final 30 seconds, and also forced turnovers on three straight Lady Bulldogs’ possessions to take a 45-37 win in the second round of the Class AAAAA girls state basketball playoffs.

The Lady Tigers, now 28-0, will host River Ridge, the reigning Class AAAAA state champs, on Tuesday. Tip-off time has not been set.

After Janiyah Blevins hit a 3 with 1:35 left in the first quarter, the Lady Tigers led 11-8 and never trailed again. But Tri-Cities gave the Bradwell faithful some anxious moments in the game’s late stages.

Bradwell led 36-27 after Mikayla Oliveira free throws with 7:46 remaining in the game. The Lady Bulldogs worked their back to within one at 38-37 as Alyssia Bandele and Faith Scruggs knocked down 3s, and Janiah Murray got a layup.

Tri-Cities hit seven 3-point shots, accounting for 57% of their offense. The Lady Bulldogs made more 3-point shots than two-point field goals (six).

But after a timeout, Destini McLemore knocked down two free throws, and after the Lady Tigers got a steal, she got two more foul shots. A five-second call on the inbounds followed, and Blevins connected on two free throws before the Lady Tigers got another steal on an inbounds play.

River Ridge routed South Paulding 66-29 in its second-round game. The winner of Tuesday night’s game will face the winner of the Loganville-Creekview game on Friday at 5 p.m. at Georgia State University’s arena.