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AJ Bolinger perched his right leg on top of a suitcase, his calf nestled next to the upraised handle. He slunk into the chair, both of his ankles heavily taped with bags of ice.

There he listened to Timpview coach Kevin Santiago recite a quote from Alabama football coach Nick Saban: "We deserve it 'cause we've worked harder than anybody, but we're not entitled to it. We've got to claim what's ours."

Bolinger's performance at the Huntsman Center on Friday was the epitome of Saban's sentiments. After reinjuring his already sprained ankle, the senior returned to the Thunderbirds' Class 4A semifinal game against Highland to spark a decisive final run to claim the 59-49 win.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Bolinger said of securing a place in the state championship. "I'm so excited. I can't wait."

Bolinger paced the Thunderbirds with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting — improving his torrid total to 18 of 23 in the past two games — while adding seven rebounds. Colson Santiago chipped in 13 points, and Gavin Baxter finished with 12 points.

Behind Bolinger, Timpview outscored Highland 38-14 in the paint. The Thunderbirds also won the fastbreak contest, 11-0.

"He has such a presence down there," Santiago said of Bolinger. "He takes his time, and he's surprisingly quick. They think they've got him, and all of sudden — boom! Right to the rim. AJ has been our guy for a long time."

The Rams (14-12), shorthanded without guard Ryan Lambson, who dislocated his kneecap in the quarterfinals, fought resiliently despite being outmanned. Behind Brevin Elsholz (20 points), Christopher Shelton (15) and Rick Schmidt (10), Highland captured a brief one-point lead in the third quarter, and was never out of it until the final moments of the game.

"I watched eight games that they played, and every single game they were in it right from the beginning," Santiago said of Highland. "That Princeton offense lulls you to sleep."

Timpview (21-5), which has been ranked No. 1 in the 4A classification virtually the entire season, will face Olympus (23-3) at noon on Saturday for the title. The Titans finished the regular season ranked No. 2.

"You got to battle to get here," Santiago said. "I was hoping Woods Cross would battle Olympus a little bit better than that. They got the night off."

The T-Birds are vying for their first championship since 2010. The Titans have never won.

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Storylines

R AJ Bolinger, who finished with 20 points, returns to fuel Timpview past Highland.

• The Thunderbirds won the battle in the paint, 38-14.

• Timpview will attempt to win its first state title since 2010 at noon on Saturday against Olympus.