BIRMINGHAM — It might not have been pretty at times, but that didn’t matter a bit to Good Hope.

Not after coming out on top — and not after advancing to its second straight state championship game.

Sophie Konrad collected a double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds), Ava McSwain pitched in 13 points and the Class 4A No. 4 Raiders overcame a sluggish shooting performance with a dominant defensive showing to take down No. 8 St. Michael 38-30 inside Legacy Arena on Tuesday.

“At the beginning of the year, a lot of people might have said there’s no way this team could put itself in a spot to win a state title, but they found a way,” Good Hope coach Justin Aby said. “We tried to make quick runs, but they always found themselves back in it. I think their coach does a heck of a job.”

Despite leading for more than 28 minutes, the Raiders (28-5) simply couldn’t separate themselves from the Cardinals (23-4).

The reasoning behind that is two-fold — 18 turnovers and a 4-for-28 shooting effort from 3-point range, despite a high number of open looks.

Aby’s squad overcame those particular obstacles by limiting St. Michael to 20 percent shooting (9 of 44) and winning the rebounding battle 43-33.

“We have a very good defensive team, and honestly, us shooting 25 percent and winning doesn’t surprise me,” senior Jolee McHan said. “We’re going to have to shoot the ball better on Friday — and I have a feeling we’re going to do better. It’s going to take a lot of hustle and effort, because whichever team we play will be good.”

Ava McSwain joined Konrad in double figures with 13 points. She also had nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks. McHan added six points and 11 rebounds. Lexi Marshall and Lucie Adams scored two points apiece to round out the offensive production.

McHan, who missed last year’s postseason run due to an ACL injury, certainly didn’t take for granted her time on the court Tuesday.

“I loved being out there … it was awesome,” she said. “I would have paid anything last year to be able to play in those games, so I’m very grateful and blessed to be on a team like this.”

Good Hope will duke it out with No. 1 Trinity, which beat No. 6 Plainview in the other semifinal, at 4 p.m. for a chance to claim a second straight title. The Wildcats won the previous two Class 3A titles before being reclassified into Class 4A this season.

Aby said his group will remain in Birmingham the rest of the week prior to Friday’s title tilt.

The plan over the next two-plus days?

“It’s all about being focused,” Aby said. “This next game is the most important game.”