HERTFORD — The Perquimans County High School girls basketball team, the No. 2 seed in the 1A East North Carolina High School Athletic Association bracket, fell at home Tuesday night to 10th-seeded Pamlico County 45-41.
It was a tough second half for the Pirates, who saw a double-digit halftime lead disappear. Pamlico hit enough of their free throws down the stretch in the fourth quarter, and Perquimans couldn't get their shots to fall.
The Lady Pirates got off to a hot start in the game, jumping out to a 9-0 lead before Pamlico called a timeout to regroup. They continued their run, ending the first quarter with a 14-5 lead.
The second quarter was all about defense as both teams combined for only 10 points. Perquimans took a 20-9 lead into halftime.
Pamlico found its offense in the second half, exploding for 20 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth quarter. Early in the second half the Pirates' lead was cut to seven points, before they were able to answer and get the lead back to double digits.
The lead wouldn't last long, though, as Pamlico County continued its torrid start to the quarter by cutting the lead to two at 31-29, heading into the final quarter.
The scoring was back and forth through the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, until Pamlico tied the game halfway through the final frame. With 3:30 left to play, Heather Smith knocked down two free throws to give Perquimans a 36-34 lead.
Pamlico went right down the court to tie the game at 36 with a layup by Sydney Whitley-Reese. The Hurricanes then forced a turnover and were fouled by the Pirates. Whitley-Reese knocked down two more free throws to give Pamlico a 38-36 lead.
The next two possessions by Pamlico all but sealed the deal for the Hurricanes. Pamlico players stole the ball and scored on two straight possessions to give the Hurricanes a 42-36 lead with under a minute to play.
Nya Clark made one of four free throws down the stretch to give the Hurricanes a 43-36 lead. Perquimans came down and missed a three-point attempt, and had to foul again. Whitley-Reese and Dania Galvan-Veliz made free throws to extend Pamlico's lead to 44-36. Kaydee Hunter went down and scored to cut the lead to 44-38 with under 20 seconds to play.
After Hunter's two points, Pamlico missed both free throws and Heather Smith hit a three-pointer with 3.3 seconds to play, cutting the Hurricanes' lead to three at 44-41. Whitley-Reese then knocked down one of two free throws to put the game out of reach at 45-41.
Smith led the Pirates with 11 points, followed by Krista Linton with 10. Hunter had six points, followed by Lailana Harris and Indya Long with five each and Crishya Sellers who had four.
The Hurricanes were led by Whitley-Reese with 19 points.
Perquimans, who were a perfect 10-0 in Four Rivers Conference play and the FRC's regular season champions, finishes its season 24-5.
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