Thanks to a strong second-half performance from senior Walter Dew-Hollis, Tech Boston Academy defeated North Andover 65-57 in the Divison 2 state semifinals Wednesday night, earning the chance to play for the state championship Saturday in Springfield.

Dew-Hollis scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half, leading the Bears on a 21-0 run that changed a 41-33 deficit into a 54-41 lead in a matter of minutes. After that point, Tech Boston never again surrendered their lead, closing out the fourth quarter to win by 8.

The Bulldogs will represent Dorchester and all of Boston in the state final for the first time since 1976, when they were Dorchester High. They will face Taconic High School at 1:15 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Saturday.

The other Dorchester school in the state semifinals, Jeremiah Burke, saw their impressive post-season run come to a close on Wednesday as they fell to Watertown 66-61.