MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Alex Erdmann scored all of his 20 points in the first half to help Wisconsin Rapids Assumption beat Menasha St. Mary Central 65-54 Friday in the WIAA Division 4 boys state basketball semifinals.

Assumption will take a 24-2 record into Saturday's championship game against Benton.

Erdmann's first-half scoring mirrored Assumption's game. The Royals took control early and scored the first six points in the first 90 seconds of the game, forcing Central to call a timeout.

"I don't think they were ready for our pressure," said Erdmann, a 6-foot-2 senior guard. "They were kind of shaky off the bat, and we got off to a great start. We had a little nerves, too, but we were able to get to them."

The Zephyrs committed 25 turnovers in the game, 15 in the first half. Erdmann had seven steals, tying a Division 4 tournament record.

The Royals led by as many as 16 (32-16) in the first half.

"I'm not sure the kids were ready for their quickness and speed, and what they wanted to do defensively," Zephyrs coach Brian Jakubek said. "It took us a while to adjust."

The Zephyrs were especially effective as time was running out, hitting 3-pointers in each of the first two quarters just as the horn was going off.

The second one was by Eric Ransom and cut Assumption's halftime edge to 43-32. The first was by Sam Koslowski, whose 3-pointer trimmed Assumption's first quarter lead to 22-11.

St. Mary cut Assumption's lead to 44-37 with five minutes left in the third quarter, but the Royals responded with a 9-1 run to close out the period. St. Mary closed the gap to 60-52 with two minutes left but could get no closer.

Koslowski paced the Zephyrs with 17 points, and teammate Matt Flunker chipped in 13.

Brandon Fish added 18 points for Assumption.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)