EAST BEND — A tight ball game quickly turned into a rout Forbush last Tuesday night in the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A girls basketball playoffs.
With their 77-44 win over Providence Grove, the Lady Falcons won their first-round playoff game for the third-straight year and sixth time and the past seven seasons.
However, Forbush’s run came to an end on Friday night in a 72-67 defeat at East Rutherford.
Despite the loss, Forbush head coach Shane Compton was pleased with what the Lady Falcons accomplished this season in a very deep Foothills 2A Conference, which included 20 wins for the seventh time in the past nine seasons.
“I am very proud of our girls. We have had played a very tough schedule that has prepared us for the playoffs,” Compton said after Tuesday’s playoff win.
Even though a running clock was used with 4:43 to play in last Tuesday’s playoff game after Kendyl Berrier’s 3-pointer, it was a tight affair in the opening minutes as there were pair of ties and six lead changes.
Natalie Scott, who had missed the previous two games due to injury, returned to the lineup and instantly provided a spark.
Coming off the bench midway through the first quarter with No. 15 Forbush (20-8) holding a slim 12-10 lead, the junior quickly converted a pair of baskets.
After a deep two from Laurel Bernhardt made it a one-possession game (16-13), the Lady Falcons quickly pushed the lead to double figures following a three-point play from Mallory Chapman.
The junior was one of three Forbush players in double figures with 13 points. Chapman added a team-high nine rebounds and four steals.
All told, an 11-0 Lady Falcon run put the hosts firmly in control. Morgan Pinnix, who led all scorers with 14 points, punctuated the run with a layup.
Forbush (20-8) continued to turn up the defensive intensity in both the second and third quarters as it led to a 45-24 halftime lead.
Out of the break, the Lady Falcons continued to put pressure on the Lady Patriots — the lead swelled to as much as 66-28 on a 3-pointer from Berrier.
Meredith Tomko rounded out the Forbush double-digit scorers with 10 points as the freshman stuffed the statsheet with five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Katelyn Eads and Scott finished with nine and eight points, respectively, while Berrier chipped in seven.
Mariah Livingston also grabbed eight rebounds while Pinnix had seven boards to go along with a trio of blocks.
Providence Grove, which saw its season end at 15-13, was led by 12 points from Jade Nixon and 10 from Brooke Ingram.
Lady Cavs hold off comeback bid from Forbush
Second-seeded East Rutherford built a 10-point lead after one quarter and led 45-31 at the halftime.
The Lady Falcons trailed by as many 20 in the game but were within a possession late. According to Forbush assistant coach Steve Workman, Forbush had a chance to take the lead with 1:04 to play but a 3-point attempt went in and out.
Natalie Scott paced a trio in double figures with 15 points and Emily Eads and Mallory Chapman added 11 and 10, respectively. Chapman also grabbed team high in rebounds (nine) and steals (five) while Eads had six rebounds and four steals
Carrie Vestal (seven rebounds and four assists) and Katelyn Eads added nine points each and Meredith Tomko chipped in eight.
East Rutherford (26-2), which hosted North Stanly in the third round on Tuesday night, was led by a game-high 22 points (highlighted by five 3-pointers) from Jada Whitesides and 18 from Taniyah Cash. Kadence Vanover finished 11 points.
The two teams shot more than 70 percent from the free-throw line with Forbush shooting 23-of-33 (East Rutherford shot 16-of-22).
#15 Forbush 77, #18 Providence Grove 44
Providence Grove 13 11 9 11 — 44
Forbush 23 22 21 11 — 77
PROVIDENCE GROVE: Jada Nixon 5 0-0 12; Mailey Way 0 0-0 0; Laurel Bernhardt 3 0-0 6; Brooke Ingram 3 2-2 10; Asia Steverson 1 0-0 2; Kenzi Mundy 1 0-0 3; Kailee Brown 0 0-0 0; Liz Shoe 0 0-0 0; Kolbi Jo Linberry 1 0-0 3; Ruby Caudle 0 0-0 0; Leela Vonderhey 0 2-2 2; Maggie Freeman 0 0-0 0. Team Totals: 16 4-5 44.
FORBUSH: Meredith Tomko 4 2-2 10; Emily Eads 3 0-0 6; Katelyn Eads 2 4-6 9; Mallory Chapman 3 5-9 13; Morgan Pinnix 6 2-3 14; Kendyl Berrier 3 0-0 7; Katie Furno 2 0-0 4; Natalie Scott 3 2-3 8; Karley Berrier 0 0-0 0; Mariah Livingston 1 0-0
2; Carrie Vestal 2 0-0 4; Marley Moss 0 0-0 0; Ella Sparks 0 0-0 0. Team Totals: 29 15-21 77.
THREE-POINTERS: Providence Grove: Nixon 2, Maze 2, Ingram 2, Mundy, Lingberry. Forbush: Chapman 2, K. Eads, Ke. Berrier.
#2 East Rutherford 72, #15 Forbush 67
Forbush 20 11 21 16 — 67
East Rutherford 23 22 21 11 — 72
FORBUSH: Emily Eads 3 4-5 11; Katelyn Eads 3 2-2 9; Mallory Chapman 2 5-8 10; Carrie Vestal 4 0-0 9; Morgan Pinnix 0 3-4 3; Meredith Tomko 1 6-8 8; Kendyl Berrier 0 0-0 0; Katie Furno 0 1-2 1; Natalie Scott 5 1-2 15; Mariah Livingston 0 1-2 1. Team Totals: 18 23-33 67.
EAST RUTHERFORD: Jada Whitesides 7 3-6 22; Zilah Dewberry 2 3-4 8; Bella Harris 1 4-6 6; Kadence Vanover 4 0-0 11; Taniyah Cash 6 6-6 18; Faith Smith 3 0-0 7; Kelsey Lynch 0 0-0 0; Kendall Roberts 0 0-0 0 Garryn Thompson 0 0-0 0. Team Totals: 23 16-22 72.
THREE-POINTERS: Forbush: Scott 3, Tomko, Pinnix. East Rutherford: Jada Whitesides 5, Vanover 3, Smith, Dewberry.
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