Cretin-Derham Hall basketball coach Jerry Kline Jr. came into Thursday’s Class 4A boys’ basketball semifinal game well aware of Hopkins’ ability to turn close games into lopsided ones faster than you can call a timeout.

“I’ve seen them go on 25-0 runs,” Kline said. “Blink your eyes, and without TV timeouts, all of a sudden it’s game over.”

Kline and the Raiders found themselves caught up in such a whirlwind during the second half as No. 1 seed Hopkins unleashed a 12-0 run that fueled a 75-56 victory at Target Center.

Hopkins (30-1) advances to its third consecutive championship game. The Royals are two-time defending Class 4A state champions and have won eight titles overall.

“We preach momentum because we believe it’s the most important thing in sports,” said Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr. “The kids really have an understanding of when and how to change the momentum.”

On Thursday, Hopkins turned the tide with strong play around the basket. Joe Coleman scored four of his game-high 29 points during the stretch with a layup and another basket from close range.

Novak Jr. credited Coleman for making tough plays look easy. Marvin Singleton, meanwhile, battled through foul trouble and congestion under the rim to score 15 points and grab 12 rebounds — the only player on either team with double-digits in both categories.

“He’s a warrior,” Novak Jr., said. “He’s the glue guy that makes it all happen.”

With Singleton leading the way, Hopkins outrebounded Cretin-Derham Hall 42-18 and outscored the Raiders 46-20 in the paint.

Hopkins point guard Siyani Chambers added a double-double of his own with 10 points and 10 assists.

Raijon Kelly (16 points) and Cortez Tillman (14) sparked the Raiders’ offense.

Hopkins guard Siyani Chambers is the voice you hear on the court directing plays and encouraging teammates.

The 6-foot junior is also the slingshot in the Royals’ impressive transition game, hustling the ball out to streaking teammates for easy baskets and crowd-pleasing dunks.

“My job is to get everyone involved and try to hit the open man as soon as possible to get our offense into motion,” Chambers said.

Chambers paced the top-seeded Royals throughout their 75-56 victory against Cretin-Derham Hall in Thursday’s Class 4A state tournament semifinals with 10 points and 10 assists.

“Some kids become energy-takers; he’s an energy-giver,” Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr. said.

While teammates Joe Coleman and Marvin Singleton put their large, muscular frames to great use near the basket, Chambers uses quick feet and quicker hands to play an equally tenacious style on the perimeter.

“My teammates give a lot of effort and I want to show them that I’m giving the same effort to help them out,” Chambers said.

Chambers scored his first points of the game after taking the ball away from the Raiders’ Taylor Montero. Those were Chambers’ only points of the first half to go with five assists.

But he doesn’t mind taking shots. Chambers, who came into the game hitting 43 percent of his three-pointers, hit one to start the second half. When Cretin-Derham Hall’s CJ Neumann hit a three-pointer to cut the Hopkins lead to 41-39, Chambers answered with a three of his own.

He maintained his primary duty as the Royals’ table setter, dishing another five assists — including two as Hopkins went on a 12-0 run to take command of the game.

Pulled from the game late, Chambers kept right on playing his role from the bench, cheering and coaching the second unit.

“My job is to help everybody get better at every single moment of the game,” he said. “Don’t stop until the buzzer sounds.”