Holding a lead at halftime at Jacksonville Northside in the second round of the NCHSAA state 2A girls basketball playoffs South Lenoir could taste victory.
In the end it just wasn’t meant to be.
Heather West had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven steals and Demeyia Adams added eight points and 11 boards but a third quarter in which the Blue Devils scored only one point proved costly as the Monarchs won 48-41 and advance to Friday’s sectional finals.
South Lenoir (18-7) led 26-25 at the break but were outscored 13-1 in the third quarter and never caught up.
Northside (24-4) will host Graham, a 60-43 winner over Whiteville, in a sectional final on Friday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
AYDEN-GRIFTON 57, GOLDSBORO 54: At Goldsboro, the Chargers made up for three previous defeats to the Cougars by advancing in the state 1A playoffs.
No other details were reported. Ayden-Grifton (15-11) will host Pamlico (13-12), a 67-64 winner over Wallace-Rose Hill, in a sectional final on Friday.