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3A Girls

East Lincoln girls 57, Stuart Cramer 49

For the second time this season, the East Lincoln girls beat what may be the best girls basketball team from Gaston County.  Trailing 38-37 going into the final period, the East team scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and held the Storm to 11 to claim a third round win in the NCHSAA 3A basketball playoffs.

East had led by one point at halftime and had the lead before Cramer hit a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter.  After that, East controlled the tempo and avoided mistakes, hitting shots and free throws for their 29th win of the season.  They had beaten Cramer in overtime in December. 

Kiara Anderson led with 18 points; she had 5 rebounds and 5 assists and four steals.  Emma Montanari scored 12 points, had 8 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals and clocked three shots.  Abbie Hege recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds; she had 3 steals, an assist and a blocked shot.  Lane Pethel scored 8 points, Taniyah Thomas 6, and Brooklyn Miller 2.  

The East girls, who were seeded #3 for the playoffs, will play a road game for the first time in round four.  That will be Friday night (March 8th) at West Rowan High School at Mt. Ulla (just west of Salisbury).  The Falcons, like East Lincoln, have lost only once this season.  They were seeded 2nd and won their third round game over Ashe County on Tuesday  79-52.  They've scored over 90 points in four of their games this season and have allowed 50 or more in only five games.  

SCHS:      13    12    13    11- 49

ELHS:      13    13    11    20- 57

This win put the East girls in the 'Elite Eight' in the NCHSAA playoffs for the second straight season.

Other 3A girls game:

A.C. Reynolds 70, St. Stephens 50

3A boys:

Southern Guilford 76, Crest 67

Hickory 70, Piedmont 43

Friday round 4 game:

#4 Southern Guilford @ #1 (unbeaten) Hickory

2A girls:

#12 Lincoln Charter 41, #3 East Surry 36

Friday game:

Lincoln Charter @ #1 North Wilkes

2A boys:

#1 Reidsville 87, #8 Shelby 65

#6 Randleman 62, #3 Newton-Conover 59

#2 Salisbury 90, #23 Bandys 58

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