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3A playoffs:

East Lincoln girls 53, Freedom 43

The #3 seeded East girls won for the 28th time this season and advanced to the third round of the playoffs.  Their opponent in round three on Tuesday (March 5th) at East Lincoln will be Stuart Cramer, a team they beat in overtime in early December 68-59. 

Kiara Anderson scored 16 points, had 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 assists in Friday night's win. Emma Montanari had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists, and blocked four shots; Abbie Hege scored 8 points, had 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists; Brooklyn Miller had 7 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal; Taniyah Thomas scored 4 points; and Lane Pethel 3.  

East led by three points 25-22 at halftime, but opened a 10-point advantage in the third period.  East is now 28-1 for the season; Cramer is 24-5 after beating #11 seed Hibriten 69-64 on Friday.  

Other 3A girls scores:

#24 St. Stephens 60, #8 West Henderson 51

Other 3A girls schedule for Tuesday:

St. Stephens @ #1 A.C. Reynolds

#1 Hickory boys 88, North Lincoln 46

The unbeaten Red Tornadoes improved to 29-0.  They'll host #8 seed Piedmont on Tuesday.  The Knights ended the season with a 22-7 record.

#5 Crest boys 70, Ashbrook 60

Crest will visit #4 seed Southern Guilford on Tuesday.

#2 Central Cabarrus 94, #18 Hunter Huss 29  

2A playoffs:

Reidsville boys 89, Lincolnton 55

This wasn't the same LHS team that started the 2023-2024 season: an injury removed the Wolves top scorer from the lineup and what had been a great team turned into a pretty good one the rest of the way.  The season ended with a loss to #1 west seed Reidsville Friday night (March 1st). 

Early foul trouble hampered Lincolnton's chances against the Rams.   Tyler McClain was the leading scorer for the Wolves with 17, making three 3-point shots. Landen Lyerly also made three 3-point shots and scored 11 points; he also had one  shot block.  Khalil Yarborough had 10 points; Andrew Phelps 6; Khamoni Heath and Cam Smith 4 each; and Neo Thomspon had 2.  LHS finished the season with a 20-8 record.  Undefeated Reidsville advances to the third round, hosting Shelby on Tuesday (March 5th).

Salisbury boys 74, Lincoln Charter 66

The Eagles kept it close, but the Hornets prevailed in their round two 2A playoff game.  LCS finished the season with a 20-10 record.

Other 2A boys scores:

#8 Shelby 46, #9 Monroe 44

#3 Newton-Conover 85, #19 Trinity 71

#6 Randleman 63, #22 East Gaston 46

#23 Bandys 68, #7 North Surry 66

Schedule for Tuesday (March 5th):

Randleman @ Newton-Conover

Bandys @ Salisbury

2A girls playoff scores:

#12 Lincoln Charter 53, #5 Randleman 38

After trailing 17-10 at the end of the first period and 27-22 at halftime, the LCS girls held the Tigers to just two points in the third period while scoring 17 and outscored Randleman 14-9 in the fourth quarter for a 53-38 win, their 23rd of the season.  They advanced to the third round to play at home against #13 seed East Surry on Tuesday.

#8 T.W. Andrew 60, #9 Shelby 30

1A playoffs:

#23 Mtn. Island Charter boys 55, South Stanly 52

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