WAYNE - Ypsilanti coach Steve Brooks had an inkling his team was in for a long night when, four-and-a-half minutes into Wednesday’s district semifinal against Inkster, the Phoenix were still searching for their first field goal.

Ypsilanti missed 12 straight attempts to open the game and shot an uncharacteristic 23 percent from the field, losing to Inkster in a Class A district semifinal at Wayne Memorial, 61-43.

The Vikings (15-4) play Romulus (21-1) in Friday’s district final. Romulus beat Belleville, 57-43, in Wednesday's other semifinal.

More coverage: This Story on MLive.com | Boxscore | District Bracket

“It was just an off night at the wrong time,” senior Kyle Woodyard said. “We just weren’t running our offense real crisp and the shots were kind of hesitant, like should I shoot or should I not.”

Ypsilanti finished 3-of-20 from the field in the first quarter and 16-of-69 for the game.

Conner Heine sparked an 8-0 run late in the first half to tie the game at 24, but Inkster pulled away with a 13-2 surge that spanned most of the third quarter.

Ypsilanti (16-5) trailed by double digits for the final 9:43.

“They were gritty,” Brooks said. “I don’t want to say we were overmatched because we used to play in the Mega (Conference with Inkster), but they were gritty.”

Ypsilanti’s struggles were a combination of its own poor shot selection, Inkster’s athletic defense and missed opportunities.

The Phoenix start five seniors, but Brooks turned to a talented group of underclassmen late trying to get a spark.

Junior Aaerion Allen forced three Inkster turnovers with intense ball pressure early in the fourth quarter, but Ypsilanti couldn’t convert any of the possessions into points.

Woodyard’s 3-pointer with 3:23 to play was the Phoenix’s first field goal of the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t capitalize on turnovers,” Brooks said. “We got a lot of times where they dribbled out of bounds, and against a team like this you got to get the basket. If you get the turnover, you got to get something for it.”

Heine led Ypsilanti with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Marsean Wilson added seven points and seven boards.

Jerry Jones and Lawrence Ridgell had 14 points each for Inkster, and Deon Butler added nine points and 12 rebounds.

Butler played after learning of the death of a close family member early Wednesday.

“I wasn’t energized enough, my mindset wasn’t focused,” Butler. “It hurt me a lot so I couldn’t focus, focus.”

After the game, Brooks, who coached at Inkster before coming to Ypsilanti six years ago, was effusive in his praise for the Vikings, who return much of the team that lost in the Class B semifinals a year ago but don't have Devin Gardner, who enrolled early at Michigan and will play quarterback for the Wolverines next year.

“They got a pretty good team,” Brooks said. “Hell, just think if Gardner was playing.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.