Girls basketball (second-round)
4A playoffs
- No. 4 New Hanover 59 No. 13 Apex 50
The Wildcats punched its ticket to the third-round of the 4A playoffs with a 59-50 result at Brogden Hall. New Hanover moved to 25-3 overall and will continue their postseason run on the home floor this weekend.
Trailing 17-10 after the opening eight minutes, the orange and black went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter for a lead the Wildcats would not relinquish. New Hanover led 28-24 at halftime and scored five quick points after the break to extend its cushion to nine.
It was still a two possession game, 50-44, midway through the fourth period, but the Wildcats took care of business at the free throw line late in the game to solidify the win.
New Hanover had three players score in double figures. Point guard Azariah Fields led the way with 17 points and dished six assists. Kaleigh Merrell went 5-of-7 seven from the field and finished with 11 points, while Amya Marshall contributed 10.
- No. 6 Green Hope 48 No. 9 Hoggard 46
Hoggard carried a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter before sixth-seeded Green Hope rallied over the final eight minutes to hand the Vikings a 48-46 season ending setback.
Lola Lovitt paced Hoggard with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, one shot from long range and 1-for-2 from the free throw line. Alani Fisher added nine points on three treys as the Vikings led 10-3 after the opening period.
The halftime advantage was six and Hoggard was up 36-27 moving into decisive final frame. Blair Barfoot chipped in with nine and Angel Smith pulled down 10 rebounds.
The Vikings closed the year with a 24-5 overall mark.
- No. 8 South Central 53 No. 24 Laney 46
3A playoffs
- No. 7 Topsail 32 No. 9 Terry Sanford 30
2A playoffs
- No. 3 North Brunswick 58 Farmville Central 48
Seniors Taylor Perkins and Jada Bellamy combined for 42 points to guide North Brunswick, 58-48, against Farmville Central.
The Scorpions improved to 23-3 overall moving into their third-round playoff game against Northside-Jacksonville. North Brunswick took both regular season games against Northside, but look to avenge a 56-43 setback to Northside in last week’s East Central Conference Tournament Final.
Boys basketball (second-round)
4A playoffs
- No. 9 Green Hope 63 No. 6 New Hanover 61
3A playoffs
- No. 16 Northern Guilford 69 No. 4 West Brunswick 53
