It took four years for South Lenoir’s girls to get back to the state playoffs.
It took one game for the Blue Devils to show their appearance was no fluke, and they did so on the road.
Heather West and Demeyia Adams scored 13 points each and Marquia Suddeth had a double-double as 10th-seeded South Lenoir took care of business at No. 7 East Bladen with a 52-43 win Monday in the opening round of the NCHSAA state 2A playoffs.
Suddeth had 16 points and 10 rebounds while Adam and West had nine rebounds and seven rebounds, respectively, in a game that was close going into the final period.
South Lenoir (18-6) led East Bladen (21-7) 32-30 heading into the fourth quarter and outscored it 20-13 in the deciding frame.
The Blue Devils travel to Jacksonville Northside, a 49-43 winner over Edenton Holmes, for a second round game on Wednesday. The East Central 2A Conference foes split their regular season games.
Other area girls scores:
2A: Pittsboro Northwood 55, Greene Central 27; Rams end season at 9-16
1A: E. Columbus 51, Ayden-Grifton 33; Chargers end season at 8-16
BOYS BASKETBALL
NORTH BRUNSWICK 61, SOUTH LENOIR 56: At North Brunswick, the Blue Devils’ season came to an end in the first round of the state playoffs.
South Lenoir (14-11) trailed by as many as 13 in the second half before going on a 17-4 run to tie it at 45. The fourth-seeded Scorpions (17-9) answered by scoring the next six points and the No. 13 Blue Devils never got closer than four the rest of the way.
Jonte Midgette had 19 points and eight rebounds, Ishmael Baldwin added 16 points and 13 rebounds and Jaquan Wooten scored 11 points and grabbed 10 boards in the loss.
Other area boys scores:
1A: Ayden-Grifton 59, Pender Co. 49; No. 7 Chargers (14-11) travel to No. 2 Goldsboro (18-6) on Wednesday.