BEATRICE — Marengo High School’s boys basketball team is headed to the Class 1A playoffs after they finished as runners-up in the Area 4 tournament Wednesday night.

The Panthers (11-7) fell to J.F. Shields (13-5) 51-42 in the area tournament finals. 

They have advanced to the sub-regional playoffs. Marengo travels to Southern Choctaw Saturday for a 6 p.m. matchup to determine who will advance to the regional tournament at the Garrett Coliseum on Tuesday, Feb. 11, against the winner of Pleasant Home vs. Brantley.

Top performers in Tuesday night’s game were Omar Autery, who put up 16 points for Marengo and pulled down 16 rebounds.

J.F. Shields’ top performers were Dante Lefall with 21 points and Hakeem Shamburger with 14 points.

The Panthers clinched a spot in the area finals with their 51-47 semifinal over Choctaw County.