Croatan girls escape in second round

BROAD CREEK — After a hard-fought victory, it likely won’t get any easier for the Croatan girls basketball team.

Ar’neka Montford tallied 22 points and the Cougars escaped North Brunswick for a 58-53 victory in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs On Wednesday.

Croatan, the top seed from the East Central Conference, trailed by three with five minutes remaining before Montford led her team’s late charge. She scored consecutive baskets with three minutes left to give her club the lead for good.

The Cougars then began to pull away as they built a late eight-point advantage.

Montford also finished with 10 rebounds. She was complimented as Chelsea McGowan added 11 points and 11 rebounds, Molly Lewis notched eight points and five boards, Mimi Montford-Frost netted seven points and Katherine Gould chipped in with six points for the Cougars, who will host First Flight Friday in the sectional final.

Tyera Fisher scored 22 points and Lynse McNeil added 11 for North Brunswick, the second seed from the Waccamaw Conference.

NORTH BRUNSWICK (53)

Williams 3, White 1, Fisher 22, McNeil 11, Robbins 7, Graham 2, Hanson 7. TOTALS — 20 10-17 53.

CROATAN (58)

Bridges 4, Gould 6, McGowan 11, Montford-Frost 7, Lewis 8, Montford 22. TOTALS — 21 16-27 58

North Brunswick 14 8 17 14 — 53

Croatan 10 19 13 16 — 58

3-POINT GOALS—NB 3 (Fisher 2, Robbins), C 0. REBOUNDS—C 38 (McGowan 11, Montford 10). RECORDS—NB: 16-10, season complete. C: 26-1, hosts First Flight Friday in sectional final.