Theo John wasn’t particularly happy with his performance in Wednesday’s quarterfinal. He made up his mind that Thursday would be different.

Champlin Park’s 6-8 center was the difference-maker from the outset, with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six blocked shots and at least twice that many intimidations as the Rebels defeated Wayzta 70-62 in the Class 4A semifinals at Target Center.

“I was told by this team to dominate,” John said. “There was no one in the post who could guard me and I knew if I started going off, it would open things up for the shooters.”

Things eventually opened up, but it took a bit longer than expected. Wayzata’s constant motion and and tightly packed defense had the Trojans thinking upset. With the game tied 53-53 with 4:02 left, Champlin Park went on a game-defining 14-3 run, bolstered by two three-pointers from Brian Smith and another from Josiah Strong.

“Our boys just kept with it,” Rebels coach Mark Tuchscherer said. “The TV timeouts are not something we’re used to. It takes away from those long runs we like. This team just stuck with it.”

Wayzata looked unbeatable in the game’s opening minutes. The Trojans made their first four shots, three of them three-pointers, to take an 11-0 lead.

“We talked to each other and said we’ve got to get going,” said guard McKinley Wright, who finished with 19 points.

“We thought we were going to win,” Wayzata coach Bryan Schnettler said. “We believed and that’s why we started out the way we did.”

One more victory and Champlin Park can soothe lingering pain from a loss to Apple Valley in the 2015 championship game and win first team state championship in school history.

“Coach brings the second-place trophy to every practice to remind us of what happened,” Wright said. “We’re going to go out Saturday and try to have a different outcome.”

The expected Champlin Park run came later than the Rebels expected, but it came nonetheless and lifted them to a 70-62 victory over Wayzata on Thursday in the Class 4A semifinals.

Champlin Park went on a 14-3 run in the latter stages of the second half, turning a 53-53 tie into a comfortable 67-56 lead. The run was keyed by back-to-back three-pointers from senior guard Brian Smith.

McKinley Wright scored 21 points and Theo John had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Champlin Park (31-0), which returns to the Class 4A championship game for the second time in three seasons.

Check back later more on the game.