Photo by Andrew Grimm Barnesville’s Luke Detling shoots over Malvern’s Jordan Detchon during Tuesday’s district semifinal.

RICHMOND –​ Barnesville was faced with a task no other team has been able to accomplish this season in Tuesday’s Division III, East District semifinal — beat Malvern.

Unfortunately for the Shamrocks, they were added to the list of those stung by the undefeated Hornets.

Malvern, the top seed in the district and now 25-0, used a big second quarter to create some distance and never let the Rocks (15-10) fight their way back on the way to a 66-50 victory.

“Malvern is a really good team, and we knew that coming in,” Barnesville head coach Shane Stephens said. “We felt like if we didn’t turn the ball over and make mistakes, we could give ourselves a chance, but we turned the ball over way too much.

“I’m proud of our guys, they kept fighting and that’s what they’ve done this season.”

The Hornets, after leading by five at the end of one, out-scored the Rocks 20-6 in the second quarter for a 19-point halftime lead. Barnesville, which had won nine of its last 11 coming in including an upset of No. 2 seed Harrison Central, cut into the deficit in the third quarter, but never got it to single digits and Malvern pulled back away by 19 going to the fourth and cruised from there.

“We went on a little bit of a run and got it down to 11 or 12, but just never got all the way back,” Stephens said.

Senior Jason Castello led the ninth-seeded Shamrocks with 17 points, while classmate Asa Geilinger netted 13.

It was the final game for the Barnesville senior group that also included Luke Detling, Ben Holskey and Jackson Phillips.

“I’m so proud of these guys, I could not have asked for a better group,” Stephens said. “When I got this job, I wasn’t sure what to expect but these guys have been great.

“I hope these guys enjoyed this ride, not everyone gets to experience a run like this.”

Malvern was led by J’Allen Barrino with 21 and Mitchell Minor with 17.

The Hornets advance to face No. 3 seed Martins Ferry Friday night at Claymont High School in the district championship.